title: Fludrocortisone in the management of an infant with a single ventricle and an overly tightened pulmonary artery band.
abstract: We describe a 2-month-old female infant with a univentricular heart and overly tightened pulmonary artery band (PAB) resulting in hypercyanotic episodes. Despite adequate doses of morphine and a beta-blocker, she continued to have multiple hypercyanotic events per day. Treatment with fludrocortisone resulted in resolution of these episodes and allowed performance of a Glenn shunt at 3 half months of age. We conclude that fludrocortisone may be beneficial in the management of an overly tightened PAB until the patient is suitable for surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Endocrinology, St. Louis University, School of Medicine, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, 1465 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ponciroli
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jureidini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dempsher
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balfour
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005438:Fludrocortisone