Unilateral absence of pulmonary artery and ventricular septal defect in an infant

Pneumonectomy for Unilateral Proximal Interruption of Pulmonary Artery: A Case Series from the Literature

BACKGROUND

Unilateral proximal interruption of the pulmonary artery (UPIPA) is a rare congenital disease, and its optimal management remains undefined in the existing literature. The occasional necessity for pneumonectomy is still supported by limited evidence.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed search engine, focusing on UPIPA cases that received pneumonectomy. Thirty-one pertinent articles were selected and included in the analysis. A case reported from our institution was included in the analysis.

RESULTS

We found 25 adults and seven children affected by UPIPA who received an indication for pneumonectomy, plus an additional case that was reported by our institution. Among adult patients, the predominant indication was hemoptysis (57%), followed by suspected or confirmed lung cancer (23%). Approximately 46% of surgical procedures were classified as urgent or emergent. Postoperative complications were observed in 36% of cases, with no recorded mortality. In pediatric cases, pneumonectomy was primarily a life-saving intervention, performed urgently or emergently in 75% of instances. A possible late complication in pediatric patients involves a mediastinal shift leading to respiratory distress, which may be mitigated using an inflatable prosthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumonectomy achieves complete resolution of UPIPA symptoms. In the adult population, its primary indication is hemoptysis, with procedures conducted in both elective and urgent/emergent settings. Despite a mortality rate of zero, a notable proportion of patients may experience postoperative complications. In pediatric cases, the clinical presentation varies more extensively, and pneumonectomy is typically reserved for life-threatening situations, emphasizing the need for careful patient selection.

Congenital isolated unilateral agenesis of pulmonary arteries in adults: case series and review

Congenital, isolated unilateral agenesis of pulmonary arteries (UAPA) has a bimodal clinical presentation. It is either diagnosed in early infancy or during adulthood. Early diagnosis and timely surgical correction at infancy prevent the development of irreversible pulmonary hypertension and enable prolonged survival. Though surgical intervention is a conclusive method of treatment, its outcome depends upon the reversibility of pulmonary hypertension and the adequacy of the pulmonary artery dimension. Adults with UAPA can be asymptomatic (diagnosed incidentally) or symptomatic. They may present clinically with myriads of symptoms like exertional dyspnea, recurrent lung infection, hemoptysis, and atypical chest pain. For cases where definitive surgical treatment is not feasible, interventional and medical management should be carried out as part of palliative therapy. A retrospective analysis of 22 cases of UAPA in adults published in the literature from the years 2017-2020 are presented here, along with our institutional case.

Repeat percutaneous recanalizations of a discontinuous pulmonary artery: A very "lucky" vessel

Pulmonary artery (PA) discontinuity with ductal origin of a major pulmonary branch is a rare congenital anomaly that can be diagnosed as an isolated lesion or in association with major cardiac malformations. Arterial duct (AD) closure results in complete disappearance of the dependent PA, thus leading to the misdiagnosis of “congenital PA absence.” Neonatal AD transcatheter recanalization is considered a cost-effective approach in view of later, lower-risk surgical recruitment of the disconnected PA. However, repeat percutaneous recanalizations of a completely occluded PA, the first one as native duct-dependent lesion and the second one several months after its surgical reimplantation, have so far never been reported in the literature. This paper reports on a neonate who serendipitously received at a few weeks of age the diagnosis of “congenital” absence of the right PA. She was successfully submitted to transcatheter AD recanalization and then surgical recruitment of the dependent PA about 8 months later. However, complete occlusion of the reconnected PA was diagnosed some few months after the surgical repair. This vessel was once again recruited by percutaneous approach and it is still patent and in catch-up growth after 6 months from the second recanalization procedure.

Management of tetralogy of Fallot with unilateral absence of pulmonary artery: an overview

Tetralogy of Fallot with unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (PA) is a rare congenital anomaly that has been reported in isolated case reports and small case series. There is no well-defined treatment algorithm for these patients, and repair has been associated with high mortality, although survival is improving in the more recent era. Recent reports suggest strict case selection criteria based on PA dimensions and size of the left ventricle.

Isolated pulmonary artery arising from a duct: a single-center review of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

OBJECTIVE

Isolated pulmonary artery of ductal origin (IPADO) is a rare disease with diverse presentations. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches vary widely given the low incidence. Reporting additional cases may help inform medical decision making.

METHODS

We reviewed diagnostic data--including echocardiography, catheterization, and MRI--and outcomes for all patients with IPADO at our institution.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients who met inclusion criteria were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 3 months (range, 1 day-45 years). In 11 patients, the duct supplying the IPADO was patent (ie, patent ductus arteriosis [PDA]); the duct had closed (ligamentum) in the other 26 patients. When performed, catheterization delineated the anatomy in 90% (100% if PDA) versus 54% with magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with a PDA were more likely to undergo intervention (100% vs 58%, P=.02) and had earlier first intervention (1 vs 20 months; P<.001). Patients diagnosed at age≤6 months were more likely to undergo intervention (86% vs 50%; P=.03) and unifocalization (81% vs 44%; P=.04), and had greater IPADO flow at follow-up (40% vs 14%; P<.001). Patients who underwent any intervention had greater IPADO flow than those without intervention (38% vs 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Early IPADO diagnosis is important in long-term outcome. However, successful interventions can be performed on older patients. Diagnosis relies on angiography but magnetic resonance imaging may play an increasingly important role. Although initial intervention depends on individual factors, the ultimate goal should be early unifocalization.

Rehabilitation of pulmonary artery in congenital unilateral absence of intrapericardial pulmonary artery

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the efficacy of the early rehabilitation of remnant pulmonary artery in unilateral absent intrapericardial pulmonary artery and the factors affecting pulmonary artery growth.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and imaging modalities of 15 patients with unilateral absent intrapericardial pulmonary artery (7 left and 8 right; median age at diagnosis, 5 months) from 1991 to 2008.

RESULTS

The remnant pulmonary artery was found in 12 patients (mean diameter, 2.6 ± 0.7 mm) at the hilum. Eleven patients underwent operation (main pulmonary artery flap angioplasty in 5 patients; tube graft interposition in 6 patients), and 4 patients were inoperable. Transcatheter balloon angioplasty or stent implantation was required for the remaining pulmonary artery stenosis in 6 patients (55%). The last ipsilateral lung perfusion proportion at lung perfusion scan was 39% (range, 15%-51%), and the Z value of the last ipsilateral pulmonary artery diameter was -0.5 (range, -4.2 to 2). The patients with a smaller initial remnant pulmonary artery required more interventions (P = .003). The final perfusion proportion of affected lung was higher in the patients treated early (≤6 months, n = 7) than in those treated late (>6 months, n = 4) (41.9% ± 8.5% vs 24.9% ± 10.7%, respectively, P = .024). The patients with graft interposition showed a lower perfusion proportion of affected lung than those with main pulmonary artery flap angioplasty (P = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with unilateral absent intrapericardial pulmonary artery, early and aggressive management of combined surgical reconstruction and transcatheter intervention improved pulmonary artery growth and lung perfusion.

Sildenafil in pulmonary hypertension secondary to unilateral agenesis of pulmonary artery

Unilateral agenesis of the pulmonary artery (PA) is a rare anomaly that can lead to pulmonary hypertension (PHTN). We report the case of a 10-month-old female with agenesis of the left PA, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus who developed PHTN precluding surgical repair. The use of sildenafil decreased PA pressure and normalized pulmonary vascular resistance, after which surgery was successfully performed.

Successful one-stage repair of unilateral agenesis of pulmonary artery

Unilateral agenesis of the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly that is commonly associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). Its clinical presentation is diverse, and if left untreated, it can lead to significant damage and even death. Several surgical techniques have been developed for its management, with variable results. We report the case of a 2-month-old infant with agenesis of the left pulmonary artery (PA) and VSD. One-stage primary surgical re-anastomosis was successful in establishing continuity to the main PA and preventing further damage to the heart.

Successful early surgical recruitment of the congenitally disconnected pulmonary artery

BACKGROUND

Our purpose was to document our experience with early recruitment of congenitally disconnected pulmonary arteries and to assess subsequent pulmonary artery growth and function.

METHODS

Patients born in the 10-year period from 1989 to 1999 with a disconnected pulmonary artery diagnosed in infancy and treated in our unit were studied. To be included patients had nonconfluent pulmonary arteries with one or both completely disconnected from the main pulmonary artery. This series did not include patients with acquired stenosis causing occlusion of a pulmonary artery. Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, MRI, lung perfusion scans, and intraoperative assessment were used to gauge pulmonary artery growth and function.

RESULTS

Seven patients with a disconnected pulmonary artery associated with intracardiac conotruncal congenital cardiac disease underwent successful early surgical recruitment of the affected pulmonary artery at 3 months of age or younger. Median follow-up from date of first operation was 4.2 years (range, 1.6 to 13.4). All 7 patients had postrecruitment lung perfusion scans showing a mean of 44% (range, 27% to 78%) of total pulmonary flow through the affected lung. Significant growth in the diameter of the recruited native pulmonary artery was demonstrated in all patients. There were no deaths reported in our series to date.

CONCLUSIONS

The rare possibility of a congenitally disconnected pulmonary artery needs to be considered in all patients with a conotruncal cardiac anomaly. To facilitate surgical correction, ensure subsequent growth of the pulmonary artery, and optimize associated lung development, early diagnosis and surgical recruitment is recommended.