Bronchial decompression following repair of absent pulmonary valve: Fine-tuning by procedural fiberoptic bronchoscopy

Abstract

Marked aneurysmal dilation of the central and branch pulmonary arteries in utero in patients with tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve can often exhibit extrinsic compression of the trachea and bronchi. The major morbidity in these patients remains postoperative ventilation issues. This case report highlights the role of intraoperative bronchoscopy in providing guidance for obtaining optimal bronchial decompression that was achieved by an initial pulmonary arteriopexy followed by an aortopexy.

Keywords

• airway management
• bronchoscopy
• congenital heart disease
• infant pulmonary valve insufficiency
• tetralogy of fallot