Periarterial abscess: another cause of cyanosis after pulmonary artery banding.

Twenty seven months after pulmonary artery banding a boy aged two and a half developed rapidly progressive cyanosis. A periarterial abscess was found at the site of the band. Repair of the pulmonary artery and closure of the ventricular septal defect were complicated by profoundly low cardiac output and prolonged dependence on a ventilator. This near fatal complication would have been avoided by primary closure of the ventricular septal defect.