Complications of surgical treatment of interventricular communications in the infant
Lebreton, P.; Lognone, T.; Zerr, C.; Fauchon, G.; Khayat, A.
Cahiers d'Anesthesiologie 34(3): 199-203
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-9685 PMID: 3742303 Document Number: 270296
Interventricular communication in the infant is presently treated by complete surgery under extracorporeal circulation and hypothermia. Improved techniques in surgery, anesthetics and resuscitation explain a low, acceptable, level of postoperative morbidity; it is estimated by most authors at 3-4% during the first six months of life. Postoperatively, acute pulmonary arterial hypertension is to be feared, resulting in low cardiocirculatory flow from right ventricle failure. In a group of 20 infants who underwent IVC surgery, the authors have observed two cases of this complication, one being lethal. Its treatment is based on the administration of alpha-blocking vasodilating agents, which can be associated or not with exogenous bêta I-adrenergic catecholamines. Results could probably be improved by preventing such acute postoperative pulmonary arterial hypertension.