[Transcatheter embolization of aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries in cyanotic congenital heart disease].

Transcatheter embolization (TE) using steel coils was performed on three patients with aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (APCAs). Case #1: In a 13-year-old boy who had undergone corrective surgery for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA with VSD), one APCA was embolized by the TE technique. This resulted in a remarkable improvement in postoperative pulmonary congestion. Case #2: A 13-year-old boy who had previously undergone procedures to correct tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), underwent TE for two APCAs prior to subsequent surgery before for pulmonary stenosis. The procedure abandoned one APCA because of the long narrow origin of the vessel. For the other APCA, TE was unsuccessfully performed due to the displacement of a coil into the peripheral pulmonary artery. Case #3: An 8-year-old girl with PA with VSD underwent TE for three APCAs before corrective surgery. One APCA arising from the abdominal aorta was occluded successfully. The other two were considered too small at the orifice for TE, and were ligated surgically before corrective surgery. TE is a safe and effective method for suitable cases of APCAs. However, caution should be exercised to prevent complications. The selection of appropriate coils and catheters is also important.