Challenges with Managing Delayed Presentation of Persistent Truncus Arteriosus with Torrential Pulmonary Blood Flow in a Resource-Limited Setting

Embryologically, incomplete conotruncal septation with resultant single aortopulmonary trunk and defective ventricular septation defines the congenital cardiac lesion known as persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA). Torrential pulmonary blood flow is inevitable when this rare lesion is further compounded by patency of the arterial ductus. Such was the case of a patient who presented with fast breathing, reduced suck, darkening of the tongue, and extremities. Urgent echocardiographic diagnosis was PTA (Type A1) with patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.