Permissive hypoxemia permitted postoperative weaning from artificial ventilation after repair of pulmonary atresia

Survival after corrective surgery of pulmonary atresia was associated with low right ventricular pressure, indicating normal pulmonary vascular resistance. Therefore increased fractional inspiratory oxygen concentration, inhaled nitric oxide and intravenous prostacyclin were considered to be effective measures during postoperative intensive care. In a 20-year-old female, conduit repair and unifocalisation of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and systemic to pulmonary arterial collaterals were performed despite preexisting one-sided pulmonary hypertension. During the following postoperative period, normal arterial oxygen saturation aimed at by means of a high fractional inspiratory oxygen concentration, resulted in persistent pulmonary oedema despite fluid restriction. After several trials of weaning from artificial ventilation, permissive hypoxemia was eventually successful.