Diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistula shown by contrast echocardiography and pulmonary angiography

We report an 11-year-old boy with diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (multiple telangiectasia type). Contrast echocardiography proved R to L shunting at the peripheral levels of the lungs. A definitive diagnosis was obtained by pulmonary arteriography.     

A very rare case of polysplenia syndrome with congenital diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas

A five-year-old girl patient was admitted with cyanosis and dyspnea, which started from birth. She had small telangiectatic lesions on her face and cerebral arteriovenous malformation, but no family history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Contrast echocardiography and pulmonary angiography demonstrated diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. The patient was diagnosed as polysplenia syndrome characterized with left atrial isomerism, interrupted inferior vena cava, azygous continuation to the superior vena cava, and hepatic veins draining to the right atrium. In contrast to the other polysplenia syndrome cases, in this patient, pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas were not associated with cavopulmonary anastomoses or liver disease.     

Clinical Improvement After Banding of a Pulmonary Branch Artery in a Symptomatic Patient with Osler–Rendu–Weber Syndrome

We report a symptomatic newborn with Osler–Rendu–Weber syndrome, multiple and diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, and right-to-left shunting in the left lung. Right-to-left shunting was significantly decreased by selectively banding the left pulmonary branch artery and clipping one large feeding vessel so that total resection of the left lung could be avoided.     

Morphological Studies of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Shunting in a Lamb Model of Superior Cavopulmonary Anastomosis

We sought to identify and characterize the abnormal vascular structures responsible for pulmonary arteriovenous shunting following the Glenn cavopulmonary shunt. Superior cavopulmonary shunt is commonly performed as part of the staged pathway to total cavopulmonary shunt to treat univentricular forms of congenital heart disease, however, clinically significant pulmonary arteriovenous malformations develop in some patients after the procedure. The causes of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and other pulmonary vascular changes that occur after cavopulmonary shunt are not known. Using a juvenile lamb model of superior cavopulmonary anastomosis that reliably produces pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, we performed echocardiography and morphological analyses to determine the anatomic site of shunting and to identify the vascular structures involved. Pulmonary arteriovenous shunting was identified by contrast echocardiography in all surviving animals (n = 40) following superior cavopulmonary anastomosis. Pulmonary vascular corrosion casts revealed abnormal tortuous vessels joining pulmonary arteries and veins in cavopulmonary shunt animals but not control animals. In conclusion, unusual channels that bridged pulmonary arteries and veins were identified. These may represent the vascular structures responsible for arteriovenous shunting following the classic Glenn cavopulmonary shunt. Detailed analysis of these structures may elucidate factors responsible for their development.     

L—精氨酸对高肺血流量所致肺动脉高压的防治作用

目的 探讨L－精氨酸对高肺血流量所致肺动脉高压的防治作用。方法 21只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组（n=6)、分流组（n=7)和分流＋L－精氨酸组（n=8)。对分流组和分流＋L－精氨酸组大鼠行腹主动脉－下腔静脉分流术。11周后以右心导管法测定肺动脉平均压（mPAP)。检测右心室／体重（RV／BW）和右心室／左心室＋室间隔（RV/LV S)比值。并且观测肺血管结构的变化。结果 分流组大鼠mPAP、RV／BW及RV/(LV S）比值明显高于对照组（P均＜0．01）,且分流组大鼠肺小血管肌化程度明显增强,肺中、小肌型动脉相对中膜面积及厚度明显增加。而分流＋L－精氨酸组大鼠mPAP、RV／BW及RV／LV＋S比值明显低于分流组（P均＜0．05）,L－精氨酸缓解了肺血管结构重建的形成。结论 L－精氨酸对高肺血流量所致肺血管结构重建及肺动脉高压有重要的调节作用。     

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. A case report with known cerebral involvement and cardiac catheterization data.

Numerous bleeding episodes, neurological signs and symptoms, and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are well documented in reports of families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. It is always assumed that these are due to the arteriovenous malformations. We are here reporting a case with positive cerebral angiographic findings of large arteriovenous communications, as well as catheterization data revealing pulmonary abnormalities secondary to the cerebral arteriovenous fistula, but no abnormalities within the pulmonary vasculature itself.     

Pulmonary hypertension in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Clinically significant pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) is a common finding in newborn infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) resulting in right to left shunting at pre- and postductal level, hypoxemia, and acute right heart failure in those most severely affected. Even in those without clinical manifestations of ductal shunting, cardiac echo studies would suggest that increased pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular pressures are almost a universal finding in this disease, and in some instances, may persist well into the postnatal period. The lung is small and structurally abnormal, and the pulmonary vascular bed is not only reduced in size, but responds abnormally to vasodilators. During the last 20 years, "gentle" ventilation, delayed surgery, and improved peri-operative care have made the greatest impact in decreasing mortality in this condition. Use of PGE1 should be considered early if there is hemodynamically significant PHTN, right ventricular dysfunction, and the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is becoming restrictive. In individual patients, inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) might be helpful, but the response to iNO should be confirmed using echocardiography. In patients who survive operation and leave the hospital, there are chronic causes of morbidity that need to be looked for and managed in a multi-disciplinary follow-up clinic.     

影响左向右分流型先心病新生儿撤机成功的多因素分析

目的研究不同因素对左向右分流型先心病新生儿呼吸机撤离(简称撤机)成功率的影响。方法收集左向右分流型先心病机械通气新生儿95例,定义48 h内无需重新插管者属撤机成功。以撤机成功率为因变量,以新生儿胎龄、体重、肺动脉压力水平、肺血流量、缺损大小、缺损类型、合并心衰、肺炎为自变量进行多元线性逐步回归,筛选出可能的影响因素,进一步研究不同影响因素对撤机成功率的影响。结果肺动脉压力、肺血流量大小和缺损类型是影响撤机成功率的重要因素(P均<0．05)。中重度肺动脉高压组的撤机成功率低于轻度肺动脉高压组(P均<0．05),差异有统计学意义。高肺血流量组的撤机成功率低于无高肺血流量组(P均<0．05),差异有统计学意义。联合缺损组的撤机成功率低于单纯缺损组(P均<0．05),差异有统计学意义。结论肺动脉压、肺血流量、缺损类型是影响撤机成功率的重要因素。     

15岁女孩突发抽搐并肺部多发结节

15岁女童因抽搐1次,同时肺部CT发现肺结节入院.无肢端发绀,无明显杵状指/趾畸形.实验室检查示血红蛋白升高(162 g/L)、动脉血氧分压降低(61.5 mm Hg).肺部CT提示右肺中叶见不规则稍高密度结节,增强扫描可见明显强化,局部见粗大血管影.追问病史发现患儿母亲有鼻衄、肺部肿物切除史及舌部毛细血管扩张表现.患...     

Fulminant development of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in an infant after total cavopulmonary shunt

An infant with cyanotic congenital heart disease and polysplenia syndrome developed profound cyanosis within months of undergoing bilateral cavopulmonary anastomoses. Intrapulmonary shunting was diagnosed by contrast echocardiography with peripheral venous and selective pulmonary artery injection. Histopathology revealed abnormal, thin-walled vessels within the interstitium of the lung lobule. These vessels have not been reported previously and are likely to be the anatomic site of arteriovenous shunting. This case demonstrates that pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) may develop rapidly after cavopulmonary anastomosis in young infants. It also illustrates the use of contrast echocardiography for following PAVF progression in these patients.     

Bidirectional shunt flow across a ventricular septal defect: Pulsed doppler echocardiographic analysis

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic and hemodynamic examinations were performed in 31 patients (mean age 17.8 years) with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD). Three groups were studied: group I (n=6) patients had severe pulmonary vascular obstructive disease (PVOD); group II (n=12) patients had pulmonary hypertension (PH) without severe PVOD; group III (n=13) patients had no PH. Bidirectional shunting was detected in 9 VSD patients (6 in group I and 3 in group II). Patients with low to moderately elevated right ventricular pressures demonstrated left-to-right shunting across the defect throughout the cardiac cycle. When systolic pressure in the right ventricle reached approximately 60% of the left ventricular pressure, right-to-left shunting occurred across the defect during early and mid diastole. However, in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (group I) the right-to-left shunting occurred during late systole with continuation during the early and mid diastolic period. The earlier occurrence of right-to-left shunting (index <0.5 second) signifies the presence of severe PVOD.     

Transcatheter Diagnosis and Intervention for Iatrogenic Right-to-Left Shunts Decades After Surgical Repair of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Veins and an Atrial Septal Defect

A 57-year-old man presented with symptomatic right-to-left shunts decades after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect and partial anomalous pulmonary veins. Two sources of shunting were identified: a baffle leak from the right superior vena cava (RSVC) to the left atrium secondary to complete occlusion of the RSVC-to-right atrium connection and an acquired previously unpublished coronary sinus to the left atrial shunt secondary to inadvertent closure of the coronary sinus. The diagnosis and transcatheter management of these unusual right-to-left shunts are reported.     

Failure of liver transplantation in Wilson's disease with pulmonary arteriovenous shunting

A 12-year-old boy with Wilson's disease developed exertional dyspnea, cyanosis, and finger clubbing 10 months after diagnosis. The hypoxemia was caused by arteriovenous shunting, demonstrated by radionuclide scanning and pulmonary arteriography. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed after the development of severe hypoxemia. There was no apparent reversal of the intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting and he died 10 days posttransplantation of multiple organ failure secondary to hypoxemia. Monitoring arterial oxygen saturation in children with cirrhosis is warranted since the presence of significant arteriovenous shunting may influence prognosis and decisions regarding liver transplantation.     

Neonatal pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

A 3 week old infant presented with persistent hypoxaemia and was diagnosed with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. Her family history was positive for hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. She was treated successfully with coil embolotherapy at the age of 4 months. Transcatheter embolisation may be considered the primary treatment for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in infancy.     

Color flow mapping to document normal pulmonary venous return in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension being considered for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

This study investigated the value of color flow mapping in documenting normal pulmonary venous return in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension who were candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Forty newborn infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension underwent conventional (two-dimensional and Doppler) echocardiography and color flow mapping. Of 25 candidates for ECMO therapy, 18 subsequently received it. Conventional echocardiography demonstrated normal pulmonary venous return in only 21 of the 40 patients. In all 40, however, color flow mapping demonstrated normal right and left pulmonary venous drainage entering the left atrium. In three other patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous return, conventional echocardiography demonstrated the anomalous pulmonary venous pathways, and color flow mapping did not show jets emanating from the left atrial wall; the left atrium was shown to fill exclusively from right to left shunting through the foramen ovale. We conclude that color flow mapping is superior to conventional echocardiography for verifying normal pulmonary venous return in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension.     

Range of echocardiographic findings in term neonates with high oxygen requirements

AIMS—To examine the hypothesis that right to left shunting occurs mainly in the lungs rather than through the fetal channels in neonates.METHODS—Thirty two term babies requiring over 70% oxygen had daily colour Doppler echocardiograms until recovery. Measurements included left ventricular fractional shortening, right and left ventricular outputs, colour and pulsed Doppler ductal and atrial shunting and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) derived from ductal shunt or tricuspid incompetence velocities.RESULTS—The babies were retrospectively classified into a respiratory group (n=19) and a persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) group (n=13) on the basis of clinical history and radiology. At the initial echocardiogram, just 50% of babies had suprasystemic SPAP. Despite better oxygenation, more of the PPHN group had suprasystemic PAP (85% vs 26%). A correlation between SPAP and Oxygen index (OI) was present only in the respiratory group (r=0.7). Low ventricular outputs (<150 ml/kg/min) were common in both groups (53% and 79%). The respiratory group had more closed ducts (47% vs 0%) and those ducts which were patent were more constricted (1.75mm vs 2.6 mm). Pure right to left ductal shunts were seen in just 15% and pure right to left atrial shunts in just 6% of all babies. The serial echocardiograms showed that SPAP fell and ducts closed well before oxygenation improved. Ventricular outputs increased with age in both groups.CONCLUSIONS—Apart from early on in the sickest babies with a primarily respiratory diagnosis and the babies with primary PPHN, most right to left shunting occurred at an intrapulmonary level.     

Large fetal pulmonary arteriovenous fistula: impact on pulmonary development

A case report of a patient with a large pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and valvar pulmonary stenosis is presented. The fistula was diagnosed prenatally and its effect on in utero cardiovascular growth and development documented. Due to concerns about massive intrapulmonary shunting potentially causing profound cyanosis after delivery, an EXIT (EX-utero Intrapartum Treatment) procedure was used to transfer the infant from placental to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Severe pulmonary microvascular disease resulted in prohibitive pulmonary hypertension despite surgical ligation of the fistula. Prenatal and postnatal hemodynamic assessments of the fistula are presented and are compared to the pathologic findings.     

Stepwise interventional approach in a neonate with pulmonary valve atresia and intact ventricular septum

In neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum the aims of therapy are maintenance of pulmonary blood flow and right ventricular decompression in order to achieve right ventricular support of the pulmonary circulation. Recent developments in interventional heart catheterization with pulmonary radiofrequency-assisted balloon valvuloplasty and ductal stent implantation offer an alternative to the classical surgical approach. We report on a neonate with membranous pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum, in whom a large interatrial right-to-left shunt via the foramen ovale persisted after radiofrequency-assisted pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty on the 2nd day of life. The interatrial shunt prevented adequate right ventricular filling and antegrade pulmonary perfusion leading to severe cyanosis (transcutaneous oxygen saturation 40%). In order to increase pulmonary blood flow and raise left atrial pressure, the arterial duct was stented. After ductal stenting, prostaglandin was discontinued and the transcutaneous oxygen saturation remained stable around 89%. At follow up after 7 weeks the foramen ovale had decreased in size and only a small left-to-right shunt was present, documenting the effectiveness of this approach. Conclusion Based on the present case we propose a stepwise interventional approach for the neonate with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum. If cyanosis persists after isolated pulmonary valvuloplasty despite adequate right ventricular function, ductal stent implantation can reduce interatrial shunting and thus improve oxygen saturation. Received: 12 January 1998 / Accepted: 15 February 1998     

Spinal arteriovenous fistulas in children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant angiodysplasia with high penetrance and variable expression. The manifestations of HHT are often age related, and spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) may be the initial presentation of HHT in young children. Because spinal AVFs are rarely reported, however, screening is not incorporated into current clinical recommendations for the treatment of patients with HHT. The authors describe 2 cases of children younger than 2 years of age with acute neurological deterioration in the context of a spinal AVF and in whom HHT was subsequently diagnosed. One patient presented with intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage and the other with acute thrombosis of an intramedullary varix. These cases highlight the potential for significant neurological morbidity from a symptomatic AVF in very young children with HHT. Given the lack of data regarding the true incidence and natural history of these lesions, these cases raise the question of whether spinal cord imaging should be incorporated into screening recommendations for patients with HHT.     

Cerebral Hemorrhage Associated with Sildenafil (Revatio) in an Infant

A case of cerebral hemorrhage associated with sildenafil (Revatio) use in an infant is presented. Sildenafil is increasingly used in the treatment of primary and secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. In the reported case, sildenafil used to treat pulmonary arteriovenous fistula improved right-to-left shunting across the pulmonary fistula but resulted in cerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral hemorrhage, a previously reported complication of sildenafil, developed in an infant after a rapid increase in dose, to 4.7 mg/kg/day. Therefore, sildenafil doses must be increased only with care, and cerebral hemorrhage must be considered a potential complication.