Remote Control of Pulmonary Blood Flow

Abstract

Pulmonary artery banding is a suitable approach for complex heart defects suitable to later bi-ventricular repair, functionally uni-ventricular hearts, and left ventricular retraining.Despite the existence of a very large spectrum of congenital heart defects and clinical situations with potential indication for pulmonary artery banding, the availability of only the conventional surgical technique is still limiting the application of this approach.A solution to the clinical need for an adjustable pulmonary artery banding has been found with a telemetrically controlled adjustable pulmonary artery banding, FloWatch® (EndoArt, Lausanne, Switzerland). This new implantable, wireless, battery free, device (FloWatch®), demonstrated the feasibility of repeated progressive occlusions and re-openings of the device at the wanted percentage of occlusion through a remote control, with long-term experimental evaluation in animals, followed by successful introduction in clinical practice in different institutions.The availability of a reliable adjustable pulmonary artery banding, avoiding any re-operation and the need for pulmonary artery reconstruction at the moment of de-banding, has substantially modified the clinical management of infants with congenital heart defects with increased pulmonary artery blood flow and pressures. New therapeutic strategies can now be considered to expand the applicability of this device.