Progressive pulmonary venous obstruction and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis associated with tetralogy of Fallot

M. E. McConnell, A. D. Pacifico, W. H. Johnson Jr, E. Mroczek

University of Alabama in Birmingham.
United States

Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatr Cardiol 1994; 15: 95-99
DOI: 10.1007/BF00817617

Abstract
Stenosis of individual pulmonary veins is a rare condition associated with a very high mortality. The present report is the first known case of progressive pulmonary venous obstruction associated with the tetralogy of Fallot. This clinical and anatomical study suggests that initial dynamic and possibly reversible occlusion occurs at the junction of the pulmonary vein and left atrium. Anatomical lesions in pulmonary veins then develop, possibly secondary to functional stenosis. The usually fatal outcome of these cases is due to the development of fixed pulmonary venous occlusion and possibly pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. The rapid progression of pulmonary venous stenosis strongly suggests that discrete veno-atrial stenosis should be surgically corrected as early as possible to prevent the irreversible diffuse pulmonary venous obstruction associated with an invariably fatal prognosis.

Category
Stenosis or Obstruction of Normal Pulmonary Venous Connections
Patient Factors Influencing the Onset, Severity or Outcome of Disease
Pulmonary Venous Pathology

Year of Publication: 1994

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