Anesthesia Management of a Patient With Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Case Report of Eisenmenger Syndrome

Abstract

Patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital heart defect characterized by the persistence of a fetal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, resulting in abnormal blood flow depending on its size. When left uncorrected, it can lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome. This disorder is characterized by the following triad: large intra- or extracardiac congenital defect with an initial systemic-to-pulmonary shunt, pulmonary arterial hypertension with shunt reversal (right-to-left) or bidirectional shunting, and hypoxemia with cyanosis. Understanding this challenging pathophysiology is important when delivering anesthesia, especially during intraoperative acute anesthesia events. We report on successful anesthesia management of a 30-year-old female patient with Eisenmenger syndrome who underwent an elective bilateral laparoscopic salpingectomy. This case report highlights the anesthesia considerations to avoid exacerbation of the shunt.