[Repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return using an ultra-short acting beta blockade (esmolol)--case reports]

In 2 infants with asplenic syndrome associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), a repair of TAPVR was done under mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using esmolol, an ultra short-acting beta-blocker to obtain good operative field without aortic-cross clamping. Both cases were weaned from CPB uneventfully. Pulmonary venous obstruction was not found after surgery. This strategy seems to be applicable in pediatric cardiac surgery which is mainly limited to the atrial level.