Idiopathic Occlusion of the Fetal Ductus Arteriosus without Lumen Narrowing

Constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus in utero can be caused by pharmacological agents or can occur spontaneously. The spontaneous constriction and closure of the ductus arteriosus have been reported sporadically in the previous literature, either completely obliterated or constricted ductus arteriosus causing narrowing. This cardiac defect was characterized by no blood flow through the ductus arteriosus without lumen narrowing. The fetal echocardiography revealed the features of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus. We report a case of occlusion of the ductus arteriosus at 38 weeks of gestation that had a favorable postnatal outcome after immediate cesarean section. (Echocardiography 2011;28:E85‐E88) The spontaneous constriction and closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus have been reported sporadically in the previous literature, either completely obliterated or constricted ductus arteriosus causing narrowing. We report a case of no detectable blood flow in the ductus arteriosus without lumen narrowing at 38 weeks of gestation. Immediate cesarean section resulted in an excellent neonatal outcome.