[Reconstruction of pulmonary artery branches with pedicled flaps from the autologous pericardium]

A new reconstruction technique using pedicled flaps from autologous pericardium was applied in a case of long hypoplastic segments of the two branches of the pulmonary artery in a 6-year old child. The pericardial sac was incised vertically on the midline, and two rotating flaps, one on the left, the other on the right, were created to bring the pericardium in front of the corresponding arterial branches. Each branch was split open all along its hypoplastic segment which was then widened to normal diameter, using the pericardial flap for reconstruction. Control echocardiography, performed one year later, showed that the excellent post-operative results persisted. This is of particular interest as it is well known that all other materials previously utilized to reconstruct the pulmonary artery do not grow or even shrink, resulting in progressive stenosis.