[Importance of the systemicopulmonary collateral arterial circulation in congenital cardiopathies].

This paper manifests the importance of the systemic-pulmonary collateral circulation in congenital heart diseases. It shows that through the angiographic and hemodynamic study you should recognize the number, origin, course, and size of each of these arteries because during the corrective surgical treatment of certain types of heart diseases, these arteries should be tied off to prevent cardiac overload during the procedure and to prevent intrapulmonary short circuits from left to right in the postoperative period. The knowledge of the central and peripheral pulmonary arteries is important and because of this it should be remembered that the area of the section of the pulmonary arteries, right to left, together should be at least the equivalent of half of the area of the section of the aorta in its diaphragmatic level, the diameter which permits an acceptable cardiac output after the intervention. If the arteries are adequate a plan of surgical intervention which permits the control of the collateral systemic-pulmonary great arteries should be drawn up.