A new approach for pulmonary artery reconstruction to repair infant unilateral absence of right pulmonary artery / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To sum up the experience of surgical repair for infants with absence of right pulmonary artery(ARPA) in our hospital to improve the treatment of ARPA.Methods:From February 2019 to April 2019, 3 infants with ARPA underwent surgical repair in our hospital, aged from 33-day to 20-month. We took enhanced CT scan with three-dimensional reconstruction and pulmonary vein wedge angiography(PVWA) to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the surgical indications. We explored to mobilize the atresia patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) and adopted "two-segment" technique to reconstruct the absent pulmonary artery. The blood flow in the "neo" pulmonary artery, the improvement of the pulmonary hypertension and anticoagulant therapy were followed up closely after the operation.Results:There were particular traces on CT reconstruction images which were very important cues for cardiac surgeons inferring potential approaches during the operation, such as the aberrant "diverticulum" or "bud" in the position of the base of the innominate artery in all 3 infants which were confirmed as one end of the atresia PDA connecting the right pulmonary hilum; PVWA which can clearly show the development and distribution of the pulmonary vessels within the lung was taken in one patient. Significant alleviation of pulmonary hypertension happened immediately after the RPA reconstruction; 3 patients recovered smoothly. During early follow-up, RPA thrombosis happened in one patient was cured by continuous pumping anticoagulation with heparin. Now warfarin or aspirin was used with close follow-up.Conclusion:ARPA is not "no-fly zone" for surgical correction. Earlier diagnosis and pulmonary reconstruction in infant could get excellent early result. Some particular aberrant "diverticulum" on CT reconstruction images are important cues with PVWA still being the golden standard for diagnosis and assessment.