Background

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease, characterized by ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular hypertrophy.

A 64-year-old man, ex-smoker, with previous history of multiple myeloma and tetralogy of Fallot non surgically corrected. Admitted to the Pulmonology Department for worsening dyspnea in the last week. During the physical examination, the patient presented peripheral oxygen saturation of 58% and exuberant digital clubbing. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed respiratory acidemia (pH 7.31, pO₂ 28, pCO₂ 49, HCO₃- 24.7) and analytical study on peripheral blood showed polyglobulia and thrombocytopenia. No changes on chest radiograph. During hospitalization, he was eupneic, despite maintaining respiratory acidemia with bilevel noninvasive ventilation and never presenting pO2 greater than 40 mmHg with different FiO2 values. Chest CT confirmed the presence of a complex vascular malformation, with a small pulmonary artery diameter and exuberant collateral circulation in the subpleural region of the RUL and left lung fissure. There was also a right paravertebral mass and some left paravertebral nodules, suggesting extramedullary hematopoiesis. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed alterations compatible with tetralogy of Fallot with a possible right to left shunt due to interventricular communication and dilated and hypertrophied right ventricle. He was discharged home having a global respiratory failure with FiO2 26% (pH 7.33, pO2 33, pCO₂ 59, HCO₃-31.1) and refused home ventilation.

This case report illustrates a rare cause of chronic respiratory failure in adult, with no relevant clinical improvement with oxygen or noninvasive ventilation therapy. It is also noteworthy for being a patient who refused surgical treatment and has long term survival comparing with other works described in literature.

Figure 1: (A): Digital clubbing. (B,C): Chest CT confirmed the presence of a complex vascular malformation with a small pulmonary artery diameter and exuberant collateral circulation in the subpleural region of the RUL and left lung fissure. (D) Right paravertebral mass and some left paravertebral nodules, suggesting extramedullary hematopoiesis.