Wire coil embolization of systemic-pulmonary artery collaterals following surgical correction of pulmonary atresia

Abstract

This report describes the selective obliteration of large systemic-pulmonary arterial collateral vessels, commonly found in cyanotic congenital disease with severe pulmonary atresia. A transcatheter wire coil embolus technique was used. The relative ease with which these shunt vessels can be occluded, with concomitant decrease in morbidity, is stressed and the importance of a team approach in the perioperative evaluation, angiographic assessment, and eventual therapy of patients with these complex anomalies is emphasized.