[Unilateral pulmonary venous obstruction: a case report]

A 3-month-old girl with right common pulmonary venous obstruction and severe pulmonary hypertension underwent pulmonary venous reconstruction (venoplasty). However, pulmonary hypertension persisted and she died on the 69th postoperative day. Autopsy revealed a widely opened pulmonary vein at the site of the venoplasty. Histological examination showed thickened alveolar walls, thromboembolism in pulmonary arterioles and venous hypoplasia in the right lung. The venoplasty for unilateral pulmonary venous obstruction with severe pulmonary hypertension may not be the proper treatment, since pulmonary hypertension usually continues or progresses postoperatively. Pneumonectomy may be a better choice to be applied.