Iatrogenic aortopulmonary fistula occurring after pulmonary artery balloon angioplasty: a word of caution.
We describe the natural history of an adolescent patient who developed an aortopulmonary fistula (APF) after transcatheter stent placement for left pulmonary artery stenosis after neonatal repair of d-transposition of the great arteries. Due to its rarity, the APF was not initially diagnosed and treated until 4 months later. The APF was occluded with a covered stent. Because this is not an isolated report in the literature, we believe it should be considered as a potential complication in all patients after balloon dilation of stenotic pulmonary artery branches after arterial switch surgery.
Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2-35128 Padua, Italy. vladimirovida@yahoo.it
Vladimiro L
VL
Vida
Roberta
R
Biffanti
Giovanni
G
Stellin
Ornella
O
Milanesi
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001159:Arterio-Arterial Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000601:surgery