Growable Shunt as Novel Therapy in Children Requiring Aortopulmonary Shunt for Extended Time.

We describe a 35-month-old girl with a complex congenital heart defect including double-inlet left ventricle who presented with an occluded ductal stent. We performed pulmonary artery unifocalization and central shunt placement to bridge to Fontan or as final palliation. Anticipating a prolonged role for the shunt, we used a novel approach to aortopulmonary shunt construction consisting of a stent-restricted shunt that allows extended shunt longevity through an ability to "grow" with the patient's somatic growth. This technique demonstrates a safe way to dilate aortopulmonary shunts without repeated open surgical intervention.