Inadvertent ligation of the left pulmonary artery instead of patent ductus arteriosus. Noninvasive diagnosis by pulmonary perfusion imaging.

Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy was used to noninvasively evaluate a neonate four days after attempted surgical closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). No perfusion to the left lung was seen, suggesting inadvertent ligation of the left pulmonary artery (PA). This was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and reoperation. Radionuclide pulmonary perfusion imaging is an ideal noninvasive technique for evaluating pulmonary perfusion in neonates after complicated thoracic surgery.