Late complications following surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return below the diaphragm

William H. Fleming, Edward B. Clark, Kenneth J. Dooley, Philip J. Hofschire, Roger N. Ruckman, Alan R. Hopeman, Lynne Sarafian, Paul K. Mooring

University of Nebraska Medical Center and Henrietta Egleston Hospital for Children.
United States

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Ann Thorac Surg 1979; 27: 435-439
DOI: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)63342-5

Abstract
Between May, 1975, and June, 1977, we surgically repaired an infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return in 4 infants under deep hypothermic cardiac arrest. All patients had pulmonary hypertension and a patent ductus arteriosus. All survived operation and required positive end-expiratory pressure with mechanical ventilation. Late complications included patent ductus arteriosus not visualized at initial catheterization, breakdown of an oversewn atrial septal defect repair, and pulmonary venous obstruction despite an anastomosis diamter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm. At reoperation, there was scarring and contraction at the junction of the pulmonary veins and left atrium. One infant with these complications died post-operatively. In another patient, there was kinking of the left lower pulmonary vein at its juncture with the left atrium. In view of these complications we currently recommend the following: ligation of the ductus arteriosus regardless of catheterization findings; a right-sided approach to avoid pulmonary vein kinking; prosthetic patch closure of the atrial septal defect to avoid excessive tension on suture lines and to maintain maximum left atrial size; stellate anastomosis to provide the largest possible drainage channel; awareness that an unusually high positive end-expiratory pressure may be required postoperatively; and early recatheterization.

Category
Stenosis or Obstruction of Pulmonary Veins Following Surgical Repair of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connections
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Stenosis or Atresia of Pulmonary Veins
Incidence or Prevalence of Disease
Surgical Interventions for Pulmonary Venous Obstruction After the Onset of Disease

Year of Publication: 1979

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: Yes