SURGICAL-CORRECTION OF PULMONARY ATRESIA WITH MULTIPLE LARGE SYSTEMIC-PULMONARY COLLATERALS

A young patient in whom the pulmonary blood flow was supplied completely by five systemic-pulmonary collaterals underwent reconstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract by a new technique. This consisted of the insertion of a valve-bearing conduit between the right ventricle and an isolated segment of the descending aorta, which gave rise to three of the collaterals. Although the patient had a hypoplastic pulmonary artery confluence, other factors mitigated against its use as the sole conduit for right ventricular output. © 1979, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. All rights reserved.