Basic Concepts and Insights into Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries in Congenital Heart Diseases

Abstract

Aortopulmonary collateral arteries are persistent embryological vessels supplying lung parenchyma in various cardiopulmonary diseases with underlying pulmonary hypoperfusion. Their identification and mapping are important because of associated clinical implications and tendency to affect the surgical outcome. This article describes the embryological development and clinical relevance of aortopulmonary collaterals in various congenital cardiopulmonary conditions, along with the significance for treatment planning. Roles, strength, and shortcomings of the various imaging options and image-guided interventions are discussed, with a focus on presurgical planning and preparation, as well as postsurgical management.

Major aortopulmonary collateral artery aneurysms—A rare cause of airway narrowing

“…When the pulmonary arterial tree is underdeveloped, such as in pulmonary stenosis or atresia, aortopulmonary collaterals act as systemic to pulmonary shunts and maintain blood supply to the lungs 1,2 . MAPCAs with caliber >3 mm are usually characterized by high systemic pressure.…”