ABSTRACT
Anomalous origin of a pulmonary artery branch from the aorta is a rare congenital anomaly in which one of the pulmonary arteries arises from the aorta. These patients require early surgery to prevent development of severe irreversible pulmonary arterial hypertension. Multiple techniques have been described for repair of this condition. In this report, we describe a different technique compared with previously described procedures and discuss its advantages.
Subject(s)
Pulmonary Artery , Humans , Pulmonary Artery/surgery , Pulmonary Artery/abnormalities , Vascular Surgical Procedures/methods , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Aorta/surgery , Aorta/abnormalities , Aorta, Thoracic/surgery , Aorta, Thoracic/abnormalities , Male , Female , Vascular Malformations/surgery , InfantABSTRACT
In patients with univentricular heart, the Fontan procedure is the final palliation. This is usually staged. A systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt is performed in the presence of episodes of cyanotic spells in the neonatal period or in some patients in infancy; a bidirectional superior cardiopulmonary anastomosis is preferred early in life. This is followed by the final Fontan palliation on an elective basis later. For an effective bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis and Fontan palliation, good-sized confluent pulmonary arteries (PAs) are mandatory in addition to favorable hemodynamic data. Patients with discontinuous PAs that are small in size present a surgical challenge at initial palliation as the one described in this report.