Balloon dilation of branch pulmonary artery stenosis.
We consider balloon angioplasty to be an established, highly useful procedure in the management of branch pulmonary artery stenosis. It is successful in approximately 60% of cases. Current figures would indicate a low but significant mortality rate (1%) and a risk of aneurym formation (3%). Patients undergoing balloon angioplasty in the acute postpulmonary artery surgical period constitute a particularly high risk group for vessel rupture. Restenosis after branch pulmonary dilation is infrequent, but does occur. Further improvements in the use of this procedure should probably involve the use of expandable intravascular stents for patients with failed dilations or evidence of restenosis.
Rothman
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Perry
S B
SB
Keane
J F
JF
Lock
J E
JE
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D002648:Child; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000002:abnormalities; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000473:pathology*