Conducting defect with atrial septal aneurysm in a preterm neonate: A case report from resource limited setting

Abstract

Conducting defect (CD) co-existing with interatrial septal anomaly (ISA) like Atrial Septal Aneurysm (ASA) is a rare congenital heart disease presenting with bradyarrhythmia in-utero due to defects in the heart electrical conducting system. We report a case of a preterm female ‘CC’ (GA=35weeks) low birth weight (2.4kg) neonate with CD and associated ASA. CC’s mother presented with poor foetal movements and bradyarrhythmia and had an emergency caesarian section at 35weeks with Apgar score of 3, 5. She was managed for perinatal Asphyxia. This report highlights the fact that ASA resolved at around the first year of life but the associated heart electrical conducting system defects persisted. The report also emphasizes the challenges of managing a rare neonatal cardiac condition in a resource limited setting and the importance of thorough foetal biophysical profile and early interventional delivery when it is necessary.

Keywords: Conducting defect; neonatal; Atrial Septal Aneurysm.