title: Extrathoracically adjustable pulmonary artery banding.
abstract: A new technique of adjustable pulmonary artery banding is presented. A tourniquet system has been used in eight consecutive infants with complex congenital cardiac anomalies during the past 2 years. They had severe congestive heart failure, and six of them required inotropic support preoperatively. All survived the banding procedure and there were no hospital deaths. Four of the eight infants required additional adjustment of the band to improve hypoxemia or persistent congestive heart failure 3 hours to 4 months postoperatively. Each adjustment was made easily via a small skin incision without thoracotomy. This technique allows fine adjustment by gentle and delicate tightening and loosening of the band during and after operation, so that the technique avoids most mortality and morbidity related to an inappropriate banding and brings satisfactory symptomatic palliation.
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003250:Constriction; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010166:Palliative Care; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014111:Tourniquets
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents