A Novel Approach to the Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot With Absent Pulmonary Valve and the Reduction of Airway Compression by the Pulmonary Artery

• Published in: Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Pediatric cardiac surgery annual Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 59 - 62
• Main Authors: Hraška, Viktor, Photiadis, Joachim, Schindler, Ehrenfried, Sinzobahamvya, Nicodeme, Fink, Christopher, Haun, Christopher, Schneider, Martin, Blaschczok, Hedwig-Christine, Asfour, Bulos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2009
• Subjects: Absent pulmonary valve syndrome; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Heart Atria - surgery; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pediatrics; Pulmonary Artery - abnormalities; Pulmonary Artery - surgery; Pulmonary Atresia - complications; Pulmonary Atresia - surgery; Pulmonary Valve - abnormalities; tetralogy of Fallot; Tetralogy of Fallot - surgery; Treatment Outcome; tetralogy of Fallot; Absent pulmonary valve syndrome
• ISSN: 1092-9126
• DOI: 10.1053/j.pcsu.2009.01.022

Controversy persists regarding the management of patients suffering from tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. Airway obstruction caused by the dilated pulmonary arteries is the determining factor in the mortality of symptomatic newborns and infants. A number of surgical techniques for the reduction of bronchial obstruction have been proposed, producing variable results. All strategies have focused on plication and reduction of the anterior or posterior wall of the normally positioned pulmonary arteries, with or without pulmonary valve replacement. An alternative approach is to bring the pulmonary arteries anterior to the aorta and away from the trachea and bronchial tree. This technique has the potential to reduce or eliminate bronchial compression by the central pulmonary arteries. Failure of the treatment could be expected in symptomatic patients, where the pathology of the airways extends beyond the proximal pulmonary arteries.