Differential pulmonary flow in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Tex Heart Inst J. 1999;26(3):211-4.

Abstract

We report a case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome associated with restrictive interatrial communication and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection via a right lower pulmonary vein draining to the inferior vena cava. We found unequal pulmonary artery pressure and different pulmonary artery structure, with the right pulmonary artery being lower in pressure and more tortuous and dilated in its peripheral branches than the left. This was attributed to the variant degrees of pulmonary venous obstruction. The left pulmonary venous return was severely obstructed by the restrictive interatrial communication, whereas the anomalous right lower pulmonary vein drained into the inferior vena cava, with less obstruction. To the best of our knowledge, there has never before been a report of differential pulmonary flow associated with a partial anomalous pulmonary vein, in a case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / surgery
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology*
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Regional Blood Flow