Aorta-pulmonary septal defect

The main pulmonary artery septal defect, or main pulmonary artery window, is a rare congenital large vessel malformation. According to Stanisel's statistics in 1977, fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the literature. The defect or window is located between the ascending aorta and the common pulmonary artery, and its pathophysiology and clinical manifestations resemble those of an open duct. From 5 to 8 weeks of the embryonic period, the main-pulmonary septum separates the arterial trunk into ascending aorta and common pulmonary artery. At the same time, the ventricular septum divides the ventricular space into left and right ventricles, and finally the lower part of the arterial septum merges with the upper part of the ventricular septum, so that the left and right ventricles communicate with the aorta and the pulmonary artery, respectively. If the above-mentioned separation is not perfect, the main-pulmonary septal defect, permanent arterial trunk, or high ventricular septal defect are formed according to their position.