Pulmonary Artery Band
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A pulmonary artery band reduces blood flow and pressure treating cardiac failure (if present) and protecting the pulmonary vasculature. This palliative operation is useful when there is a high pulmonary artery pressure and/or blood flow which will induce pulmonary (eventually irreversibly) vascular disease. It is undertaken in complex disease eg univentricular heart when palliation is necessary or in multiple VSD’s when surgery is better deferred to childhood. The operation is usually performed through the sternum although via a lateral thoracotomy approach. The narrowing is made by wrapping a piece of surgical tape around the artery and drawing it tight. It can be difficult to get the degree of narrowing right at the first attempt and occasionally the patient will require reoperation. |
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| When the child is suitable for more definitive surgery the band is excised and the artery re-anastomosed. |
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Recently an adjustable PA band called FloWatch has been developed by Enodart. The device encircles the pulmonary artery and has a small motor allowing the circumference to be adjusted postoperatively remotely by radio-control in a similar manner to pacemaker adjustments. |
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This page was last edited 31/5/2004 |
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