SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MANAGEMENT OF LEFT HEMIANOMALOUS PULMONARYVENOUS CONNECTIONS

Anomalous pulmonary Venous connection of the entire left lung into the left innominate vein is very rare. 5 patients with this anomaly were managed in the authors' institution over the last 12 years. Clinically they were diagnosed as cases of pretricuspid left-to-right shunt at a trial level. Cardiac catheterisation and angiography demonstrated the anomalous drainage of the entire left lung into the left innominate ve in. Anastomosis between the vertical vein and the left atrium was esta blished using conventional cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermia, and co ld cardioplegic diastolic arrest of the heart. Postoperative course wa s uneventful. 4 of the 5 patients presented for follow-up during 1-12 years (mean 6.5 years). All are asymptomatic and have been studied wit h echocardiography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging techni ques. The anastomatic site was found to be non obstructive in all the patients.