[Scimitar syndrome: series of 12 cases]

Our experience in 12 cases of pediatric patients with scimitar syndrome is reported. Except for one, all of them presented cardiac or respiratory manifestations. The symptomatology was related to associated defects (3 atrial septal defects and 1 multiple peripheric pulmonary stenosis), degree of pulmonary hypoplasia, size of the right to left shunt and pulmonary hypertension. 3 patients underwent surgical treatment. One of them died during operation and the other two have had a good evolution. Nine patients with later respiratory manifestations have improved their condition progressively without surgical intervention. Therapeutic approach for patients with scimitar syndrome, respiratory manifestations and onset beyond the neonatal period, should be conservative.