False aneurysm origination from the proximal anastomosis of a right ventricular to pulmonary artery shunt following staged repair of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

The Norwood I operation, including placement of a shunt from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries, has been adopted by many surgeons for neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A three-year-old male who had undergone the Norwood I operation, and the Glenn operation, presented with a cervical pulsating tumor prior to the operation for total cavopulmonary connection. At the Glenn operation, the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery shunt was closed with a clip proximally, and the distal part was resected. Following the Glenn operation, the child had had recurrent deep sternal infections caused by Serratia marcescens. Cardiac catheterization showed a false aneurysm from the proximal shunt anastomosis. The bleeding after resternotomy was managed by initiating cardiopulmonary bypass via the groin vessels. Cerebral air embolies were prevented by systemic application of potassium, to achieve cardioplegic arrest during chest opening. The shunt was removed and the defect was closed. After the shunt was confirmed to be free from infection, a total cavopulmonary connection was performed after three days postoperatively. The case illustrates the management of retrosternal aneurysms during resternotomy in children.