The threshold of human endurance: 60 years of a congenital heart defect.

Long term survival in patients with partial atrioventricular septal defect (PAVSD) without adequate surgical management is very rare. The authors present the case of a 60 year-old woman who was referred to our hospital with dyspnea and worsening of general condition. A heart defect was diagnosed at the age of 25 years, but at the time the patient declined surgery. The patient underwent echocardiographic and haemodynamic evaluation prior to corrective surgery. The present report highlights the complications of chronic volume overload due to a congenital cardiac defect characterized by left--to-right shunts and atrio-ventricular valvular regurgitation with its haemodynamic implications. Despite the haemodynamic burden, the patient underwent successful corrective surgery, demonstrating the resilience of human endurance facing various comorbidities.