Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery. Rare long term complication of central aorto-pulmonary shunts for congenital heart disease. Report of two cases with review of the literature.

Aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery developed in two patients with tetralogy of Fallot at the site of a Potts' shunt. Although such a complication is known we could not find any previously reported case of successful surgical treatment in the literature. Cardiac catheterization and angiography provided the definitive diagnosis. One patient refused surgical intervention but later presented with fatal rupture and massive hemoptysis. Closure of the Potts' shunt, angioplastic repair of the pulmonary artery aneurysm and total correction of tetralogy of Fallot were successfully accomplished using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. Aneurysm should be suspected whenever a mediastinal mass appears in patients with a previous systemic-pulmonary artery shunt.

Induction of cardioplegia with blood and crystalloid potassium solutions during prolonged aortic cross-clamping.

Recent controversy concerns the proper vehicle for delivery of potassium cardioplegia. In the present study, adult dogs supported by cardiopulmonary bypass were subjected to 2 hours of multidose, hypothermic potassium cardioplegic arrest with 30 minutes of reperfusion with either autologous blood or crystalloid solution as the cardioplegic vehicle. Preservation of myocardial high-energy nucleotide stores was assessed by serial left ventricular biopsies assayed for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate. Preischemic and postischemic ventricular function was assessed by the use of an isovolumic intraventricular balloon. ATP stores were equally maintained at preischemic levels after ischemia and reperfusion by both autologous blood and crystalloid solution. Although creatine phosphate stores significantly declined (P less than 0.01, both groups) after 2 hours of arrest, reperfusion allowed equal restoration of preischemic levels. Maximum first derivative of left ventricular pressure and measured velocity were not depressed by either mode of protection. Similarly, myocardial compliance, as assessed by length-tension curves, showed no change following either autologous blood or crystalloid solution. The data show equal and significant myocardial protection by multidose, hypothermic potassium cardioplegia when both delivery vehicles were used.

Sarcoidosis: a comparative study of diagnostic procedures.

The diagnosis of sarcoidosis, as with other intrathoracic lesions, remains a challenge to the clinician. An adequate history, a thorough physical examination, and the employment of various laboratory tests often establish the diagnosis. When a definitive diagnosis is not made, biopsy of suspected lesions is indicated. Various diagnostic procedures are presented and compared.