[The "steal" syndrome and the development of pulmonary arterio-venous shunt after Glenn and/or Fontan operations (author's transl)].

18 patients with superior vena cava-right pulmonary artery (Glenn) anastomosis and 7 patients with right atrium-pulmonary artery (Fontan) conduit operation were investigated by selective angiography, oximetry and contrast echocardiography. 11 patients with Glenn anastomosis (61.1%) developed a "steal" syndrome in 4 11/12 to 9 7/12 years postoperatively. In 2 patients pulmonary arteriovenous shunt could be documented by selective angiocardiogram, oximetry and contrast echocardiography, and in 1 patient by contrast echocardiography only (16.6%). None of the patients with Fontan operation developed detectable pulmonary arteriovenous shunt in the follow-up period. The effect of the changed haemodynamics after Fontan operation on the "steal" syndrome in patients with prior performed Glen anastomosis is that to diminish or abolish collateral flow. There is no influence on the abnormal intrapulmonary arteriovenous communications.