Patency of cavopulmonary connection studied by single phase electron beam computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The shunt patency and anatomic alteration of central PA after cavopulmonary connection was assessed by one phase electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) METHODS: Thirteen patients that received a bi-directional cavo-pulmonary shunt (BCPS, n = 7) or total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC, n = 6) were included. The patency of the shunt and the anatomy of intra-pericardial PA were evaluated by EBCT, and compared by angiography and echocardiography.


RESULTS
EBCT accurately evaluated shunt patency and the anatomy of the intra-pericardial PA, except for the incorrect diagnosis of SVC-PA shunt patency and peripheral pulmonary stenosis in two TCPC patients. Both of these patients had bilateral SVC and received either bilateral BCPS or ligation of the left SVC respectively. The baffle between the IVC and PA was partly opacified through a fenestration of the baffle, but was not opacified in two patients without fenestration.


CONCLUSIONS
EBCT accurately evaluated shunt patency and the anatomy of central PA, however, the accuracy was limited in two cases with bilateral SVC. The opacification of the intra-atrial baffle was insufficient in TCPC cases. Multi-phase CT angiography may overcome this limitation in this patient subset.
Choi
Byoung Wook
BW
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Young Hwan
YH
Lee
Jong Kyun
JK
Kim
Dong Joon
DJ
Kim
Min Jung
MJ
Choe
Kyu Ok
KO
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D018610:Heart Bypass, Right; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology
D003287:Contrast Media