Pseudoaneurysm following modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: a rare complication mimicking pulmonary disease.

The authors report a pseudoaneurysm in a 2-year-old boy presenting with fever, increasing cyanosis and right upper lung shadowing on a chest radiograph at six weeks following modified Blalock-Taussig shunt surgery. Echocardiography and a CT scan of the chest revealed a large pseudoaneurysm originating from the right subclavian artery at the proximal insertion of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. The patient underwent aneurysmal resection, Blalock-Taussig shunt removal, right subclavian artery ligation and the creation of a central shunt between the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery. Unfortunately, the patient died 3 hours after the operation.

Isolated primary chylopericardium: a case report.

Isolated primary chylopericardium is a rare entity with an obscure etiology. The authors report a 10-week-old male infant presenting with tachypnea and enlarged cardiac silhouette. Echocardiography revealed a large pericardial effusion. A specific diagnosis of chylopericardium was made by pericardiocentesis and analysis of the fluid. Despite the pericardial tube drainage and medium-chain triglyceride diet, pericardial effusion reaccumulated. Ligation of the thoracic duct with the establishment of a pleuropericardial window was performed through a left thoracotomy. Follow-up echocardiograms have shown no reaccumulation of the pericardial fluid.