European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 10, 809-811, Copyright © 1996 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Acute aortic outflow obstruction by diminution of bulboventricular foramen size after volume unloading in univentricular physiology
JA Van Son and GS Haas
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UCSF 94143-0118, USA.
A young child with [S, L, L] segmental anatomy, double-inlet left
ventricle, transposition of the great arteries, rudimentary right
ventricle, and mildly restrictive bulboventricular foramen is reported, in
whom intraoperative temporary snaring of the modified Blalock- Taussig
shunt resulted in instantaneous and dramatic volume contraction of the left
ventricle, decrease in bulboventricular foramen size, and increase of the
gradient across the latter from 10 mm Hg preoperatively to 50 mm Hg. A
modified Damus-Stansel-Kaye procedure using autogenous aortic tissue
resulted in unobstructed aortic outflow; in addition, a bidirectional
cavopulmonary shunt was performed. The importance of early relief of actual
or potential aortic outflow obstruction in hearts with restrictive
bulboventricular foramen is emphasized.