title: Fatal cerebral embolus - a complication of left ventricular venting.
abstract: A 3-year-old child died following a routine tetralogy of Fallot repair. Death was caused by a cerebral embolus. Injury to the left ventricle during left ventricular venting resulted in an apical myocardial infarct. The embolic source was a mural thrombus covering the area of infarction. A technique is described whereby left ventricular venting can be avoided during open-heart surgery in small patients.
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000601:surgery*