Transesophageal echo-guided balloon dilatation for postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction

Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO), or stenosis, is still a major complication of postoperative total anomalous pulmonary venous return, being very complex in its pathogenesis. For some types of PVO, surgery is effective, but a reoperation under cardiopulmonary bypass is generally difficult and carries a high risk. The operative balloon dilatation method performed under the guidance of transesophageal echography and fluoroscopic monitering is simple as well as safe. We describe herein the technique involved in performing this procedure through the case of a 10-month-old boy.