Pulmonary artery banding with a novel percutaneously, bidirectionally adjustable device

Pulmonary artery banding is commonly performed as a palliative procedure in complex congenital heart disease; when pulmonary blood flow is increased. However, the hemodynamics may change postoperatively requiring readjustment of the band, which may necessitate a second operation. We report a new system for pulmonary artery banding which allows precise placement of the band intraoperatively, as well as bidirectional percutaneous adjustment of the band postoperatively. Via left lateral thoracothomy the new device was implanted without complications into a neonate with congestive heart failure due to tricuspid atresia (IIc) and coarctation of the aorta. Although optimal placement of the band had been achieved intraoperatively the band had to be tightened 25 h after the operation and released 85 h after the operation in order to optimize hemodynamics. The bidirectionally adjustable device for banding of the pulmonary artery is superior to previously used devices with either no or unidirectional adjustability of the band because it is safe and easy to implant and has the potential to reduce the number of reoperations associated with this type of procedure. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.