Stenting of a stenosed major aortopulmonary collateral artery in a baby with pulmonary atresia and a ventricular septal defect: rescue from critical hypoxia in the immediate postoperative stage of unifocalization supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

A 4-month baby with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) and an extremely hypoplastic central pulmonary artery developed critical hypoxia following right unifocalization combined with a right Blalock-Taussig shunt. To increase pulmonary blood flow we stented the left lower MAPCA during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. He was successfully weaned from ECMO 2 days after stenting. Percutaneous intervention for a stenosed MAPCA is an effective means of increasing pulmonary blood flow in critically hypoxic patients following unilateral unifocalization, even in the immediate postoperative stage.