Bronchoscopic diagnosis of asymptomatic unilateral pulmonary vein atresia in an infant

Cécile Tissot, Regula Corbelli, Yacine Aggoun, Maurice Beghetti, Eduardo da Cruz

Children’s Hospital of Denver and University of Colorado at Denver. University of Geneva.
United States and Switzerland

Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatr Cardiol 2008; 29: 976-979
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-007-9143-6

Abstract
An eight-month-old boy with findings of persistent left pulmonary basal infiltrate was diagnosed with congenital unilateral pulmonary vein atresia by bronchoscopy. Cardiac catheterization documented slow left pulmonary venous return to atretic pulmonary veins. Conservative treatment was chosen because the child was asymptomatic and corrective surgery or percutaneous intervention was not technically possible. After a 3-year follow-up, the child still has no documented pulmonary hypertension. Early diagnosis of unilateral pulmonary vein atresia is important to anticipate potential threatening complications like pulmonary hypertension and hemoptysis. Surgical treatment of this entity might be drastic and complex and should be weighed against a conservative alternative and careful follow-up.

Category
Absence or Atresia of Normal Pulmonary Venous Connections
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Stenosis or Atresia of Pulmonary Veins
Symptoms and Quality of Life Associated with Pulmonary Venous Obstruction
Diagnostic Testing. Noninvasive
Diagnostic Testing. Invasive

Year of Publication: 2024

Age Focus: Pediatric

Article Type: Case Reports or Retrospective Observations in Small Groups of Patients (≤10 patients)

Article Access: Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No