Descending aortic flow reversal in obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Cardiol Young. 2016 Jun;26(5):1002-4. doi: 10.1017/S1047951116000214. Epub 2016 Apr 8.

Abstract

In this study, we present the case of a neonate with obstructed infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with severe pulmonary hypertension and a patent ductus arteriosus with right-to-left shunting. The patient had an unusual finding of pandiastolic flow reversal in the upper descending thoracic aorta. He underwent emergency surgical re-routing of the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, and postoperative echocardiography showed disappearance of the descending aortic flow reversal. We hypothesise that in severely obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection the left ventricular output may be extremely low, resulting in flow reversal in the descending aorta.

Keywords: Obstructed TAPVC; descending aortic flow reversal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aorta, Thoracic / physiopathology*
  • Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Scimitar Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Scimitar Syndrome / surgery*