A case report on the successful interventional treatment of a rare cause of left heart failure in a 69-year-old woman

BACKGROUND : Dyspnoea is very common in elderly patients and can be caused by a variety of different diseases. However, the initial diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as a cause of left heart failure is very rare in this patient population. CASE SUMMARY : A 69-year-old physically active woman with known hypertension presented with worsening exertional dyspnoea. Echocardiography showed a dilated left ventricle with moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and evidence for PDA. The PDA was confirmed by computed tomography angiography and successfully closed by implantation of an Amplatzer PDA occluder II 06-06 mm. As a result, the heart failure symptoms receded completely. DISCUSSION : Congenital heart diseases should be considered as heart failure causes even in older adults. In addition to the standard medical therapy, there may be effective interventional treatment options to reverse the symptoms of heart failure in such patients.