Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection remains a significant problem. Once it occurs, it not infrequently recurs. A 14-month-old boy with recurrent pulmonary venous obstruction after repair of mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was successfully treated by the method of sutureless in situ pericardial repair and anastomosis of the left pulmonary vein to the left atrial appendage. His postoperative course was uneventful. Cardiac catheterization at 2 years and 9 months after the re-redo operation showed successful relief of PVO with marked reduction of pulmonary hypertension. In addition, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) performed 3 years and 1 month after the operation showed no pulmonary vein obstruction.
A 6-month-old baby boy had undergone the Jatene procedure at 4 days. Four months later, catheter intervention (balloon angioplasty) was performed because of severe stenosis at the bifurcation of the pulmonary arteries. Twenty days later, several episodes of cyanosis occurred and he was readmitted. The existence of shunt flow between the sinus of valsalva and the pulmonary bifurcation was detected by echocardiography and examination by 16-row MDCT revealed 2 holes at this site. Under a diagnosis of aortopulmonary (AP) window, the patient was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass and the pulmonary artery was opened after aortic clamping. There was a ridge between the bifurcation of the pulmonary arteries. After removing it, 2 holes were visualized that resembled the findings on 16-row MDCT. These holes were closed with Xenomedica patches and the main pulmonary artery was also extended with a Xenomedica patch. AP window is a rare complication after balloon angioplasty for pulmonary stenosis, but we must take great care to prevent this complication.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.