PMC3350127_01
Preoperative anatomy (mBTS: modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt; PA: pulmonary artery).
CRIM.ANESTHESIOLOGY2012-208430.001.jpg
PMC3350127_01_CRIM.ANESTHESIOLOGY2012-208430.001.jpg
fig1
The patient was a 3-month-old male with cyanotic congenital heart disease consisting of double outlet right ventricle, near absent intraventricular septum, and aortic arch hypoplasia, who had previously undergone a Norwood stage I palliation with 3.5 mm modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (see Figure 1).
Depiction of surgical anastomosis with air bubbles at SVC-PA junction. (RSCV: right superior cava vein; LSCV: left superior cava vein; CVL: central venous line; RIJ: right internal jugular; LIJ: left internal jugular; SVC: superior vena cava; RPA: right pulmonary artery; LPA: left pulmonary artery).
CRIM.ANESTHESIOLOGY2012-208430.002.jpg
PMC3350127_01_CRIM.ANESTHESIOLOGY2012-208430.002.jpg
fig2
On examination of the superior vena cava, an abundant collection of air bubbles was visible through the wall of the vein, appearing to fill the entire superior vena cava from the pulmonary anastomosis to the innominate vein (see Figure 2).