Balloon debanding of the pulmonary artery.

Clinical balloon debanding of the pulmonary artery is reported in two patients, 6 months and 4 years of age. The band was made of Dacron, and was closed with one single polypropylene suture. This suture was subsequently ruptured with a balloon inflated within the pulmonary artery at the site of the band. Balloon debanding relieved the gradient almost completely in the two patients. No problems occurred during the procedure. In the future this may prove to be an efficient and reliable way to remove the effect of a pulmonary artery banding.