Pulmonary complications of congenital heart disease: hemoptysis

Haemoptysis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Congenital Heart Disease: Insights on Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Haemoptysis represents one of the most severe major bleeding manifestations in the clinical course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). Accumulating evidence indicates that dysfunction of the pulmonary vascular bed in the setting of PAH predisposes patients to increased hemorrhagic diathesis, resulting in mild to massive and life-threatening episodes of haemoptysis. Despite major advances in PAH targeted treatment strategies, haemoptysis is still correlated with substantial morbidity and impaired quality of life, requiring a multidisciplinary approach by adult CHD experts in tertiary centres. Technological innovations in the field of diagnostic and interventional radiology enabled the application of bronchial artery embolization (BAE), a valuable tool to efficiently control haemoptysis in modern clinical practice. However, bleeding recurrences are still prevalent, implying that the optimum management of haemoptysis and its implications remain obscure. Moreover, regarding the use of oral anticoagulation in patients with haemoptysis, current guidelines do not provide a clear therapeutic strategy due to the lack of evidence. This review aims to discuss the main pathophysiological mechanisms of haemoptysis in PAH-CHD, present the clinical spectrum and the available diagnostic tools, summarize current therapeutic challenges, and propose directions for future research in this group of patients.

Life-Threatening Hemoptysis in a Pediatric Referral Center

OBJECTIVES

Hemoptysis is uncommon in children, even among the critically ill, with a paucity of epidemiological data to inform clinical decision-making. We describe hemoptysis-associated ICU admissions, including those who were critically ill at hemoptysis onset or who became critically ill as a result of hemoptysis, and identify predictors of mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study. Demographics, hemoptysis location, and management were collected. Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 score within 24 hours of hemoptysis described illness severity. Primary outcome was inhospital mortality.

SETTING

Quaternary pediatric referral center between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2017.

PATIENTS

Medical/surgical (PICU), cardiac ICU, and term neonatal ICU admissions with hemoptysis during or within 24 hours of ICU admission.

INTERVENTIONS

No intervention.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

There were 326 hemoptysis-associated ICU admissions in 300 patients. Most common diagnoses were cardiac (46%), infection (15%), bronchiectasis (10%), and neoplasm (7%). Demographics, interventions, and outcomes differed by diagnostic category. Overall, 79 patients (26%) died inhospital and 109 (36%) had died during follow-up (survivor mean 2.8 ± 1.9 yr). Neoplasm, bronchiectasis, renal dysfunction, inhospital hemoptysis onset, and higher Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 score were independent risk factors for inhospital mortality (p < 0.02). Pharmacotherapy (32%), blood products (29%), computerized tomography angiography (26%), bronchoscopy (44%), and cardiac catheterization (36%) were common. Targeted surgical interventions were rare. Of survivors, 15% were discharged with new respiratory support. Of the deaths, 93 (85%) occurred within 12 months of admission. For patients surviving 12 months, 5-year survival was 87% (95% CI, 78-92) and mortality risk remained only for those with neoplasm (log-rank p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed high inhospital mortality from hemoptysis-associated ICU admissions. Mortality was independently associated with hemoptysis onset location, underlying diagnosis, and severity of critical illness at event. Additional mortality was observed in the 12-month posthospital discharge. Future directions include further characterization of this vulnerable population and management recommendations for life-threatening pediatric hemoptysis incorporating underlying disease pathophysiology.

Pulmonary valve replacement in primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot in adult patients

Background

Adults with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) are common in developing countries. Long-term overload of the right ventricle places adult patients at risk for postoperative right heart failure after primary repair, which contributes to morbidity and mortality. The effect of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in reducing postoperative morbidity and mortality in adults has never been validated.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adults (age ≥18 years) with ToF undergoing primary repair from January 2014 to December 2019 at our institution. Patients were divided into three groups according to techniques used to enlarge the right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT). Baseline variables and perioperative outcomes were collected. The primary endpoint was operative mortality. Secondary endpoints were incidences of right heart failure and stage 3 acute kidney injury (AKI).

Results

A total of 56 patients were enrolled (mean age 41.5±11.7 years, 30 females, 53.6%). They were divided into three groups designated as the following: TA-PVR group for trans-annular patch enlargement with PVR; TA group for trans-annulus patch enlargement without PVR; and group AP for annulus preservation. Four patients (7.1%) died postoperatively, all due to right heart failure. All twelve patients in the TA-PVR group survived. There was no significant difference in mortalities among groups. Ten patients (17.9%) developed right heart failure after surgery with no significant difference among groups. Three patients (5.4%) developed stage 3 AKI after surgery, none belonging to the TA-PVR group, however, not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Right heart failure is a common complication after primary repair of adult ToF. Trans-annulus patch enlargement should be cautiously selected in this population. PVR with trans-annulus patch enlargement may be a promising technique to protect against postoperative right heart failure and mortality when annulus preservation is not feasible.

Durable Benefit of Particle Occlusion of Systemic to Pulmonary Collaterals in Select Patients After Superior Cavopulmonary Connection

Systemic to pulmonary arterial collaterals (SPC) are commonly found in patients undergoing staged operative palliation for single ventricle heart disease. Occlusion of SPC as part of pre-Fontan catheterization has been shown to improve hemodynamics acutely. Anecdotally, the effect of this intervention appears to be transient, and to our knowledge there is no data supporting its durability in these patients. Between 1/1/2016 and 5/1/2017, 24 children underwent Glenn operations at our institution. Of these, 3 patients had signs and symptoms deteriorating clinical status suggestive of volume overload in the period between their Glenn operation and Fontan completion, prompting heart catheterization. SPC were occluded with a combination of polyvinyl alcohol embolization particles, and in some cases coils or vascular plugs. Clinical course and data from echocardiograms and serial catheterizations are presented. SPC occlusion was performed over 6 procedures in 3 subjects with technical success in each case. Hemodynamic evaluation was repeated in 2/3 patients with improvement in collateral burden and hemodynamics in both cases. One patient previously thought to be unsuitable for Fontan completion improved sufficiently to undergo late Fontan completion, which was ultimately successful. In all patients, there was improvement in clinical status. In patients with severe SPC collateral durable benefit was seen, suggesting that in certain cases intervention on SPC remote from Fontan completion may have clinical benefit.

Tetralogy of Fallot and Its Variants

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this review are to discuss the anatomy, pathophysiology, surgical repair, and perioperative management strategies for tetralogy of Fallot and its variants.

DATA SOURCE

MEDLINE and PubMed.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant refinements have been made in the repair strategy for tetralogy of Fallot, based on improved understanding of postrepair physiology. Important considerations for timing and technique of surgery and perioperative management have been presented, and continued evolution is expected. Expanded use of the pulmonary valve reconstruction technique outlined herein, whatever the age of repair, may improve long-term outcome.

Massive Hemoptysis: Pathogenesis and Management

Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening complication of many pulmonary disorders, and it occurs most com monly in association with longstanding inactive tuber culosis, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, bronchogenic car cinoma, and fungal disease. It is generally a neovascular change or local erosive effect of chronic pulmonary dis ease and may originate from either bronchial or pulmo nary circulation. Recurrent bleeding is unpredictable; therefore, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention must be undertaken with urgency. The immediate priorities must be protection of the airway to the nonbleeding lung and localization of the site of hemorrhage prefera bly by bronchoscopy, which has a high yield when per formed during active hemorrhage. Immediate control of bleeding may be obtained by local tamponade with a balloon-tipped Fogarty catheter, use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube, or angiographically guided emboliza tion. Surgical resection is the preferred definitive treat ment for those who meet operative criteria; those who lack adequate pulmonary reserve are candidates for em bolization of sites with persistent bleeding. The high mortality of conservatively treated massive hemoptysis and the current inability to predict which patients will have fatal hemorrhage mandate rapid assessment and intervention.

Imaging evaluation of hemoptysis in children

Hemoptysis is an uncommon but distressing symptom in children. It poses a diagnostic challenge as it is difficult to elicit a clear history and perform thorough physical examination in a child. The cause of hemoptysis in children can vary with the child's age. It can range from infection, milk protein allergy and congenital heart disease in early childhood, to vasculitis, bronchial tumor and bronchiectasis in older children. Acute lower respiratory tract infections are the most common cause of pediatric hemoptysis. The objective of imaging is to identify the source of bleeding, underlying primary cause, and serve as a roadmap for invasive procedures. Hemoptysis originates primarily from the bronchial arteries. The imaging modalities available for the diagnostic evaluation of hemoptysis include chest radiography, multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and catheter angiography. Chest radiography is the initial screening tool. It can help in lateralizing the bleeding with high degree of accuracy and can detect several parenchymal and pleural abnormalities. However, it may be normal in up to 30% cases. MDCT is a rapid, non-invasive multiplanar imaging modality. It aids in evaluation of hemoptysis by depiction of underlying disease, assessment of consequences of hemorrhage and provides panoramic view of the thoracic vasculature. The various structures which need to be assessed carefully include the pulmonary parenchyma, tracheobronchial tree, pulmonary arteries, bronchial arteries and non-bronchial systemic arteries. Since the use of MDCT entails radiation exposure, optimal low dose protocols should be used so as to keep radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable. MRI and catheter angiography have limited application.

Treatment of haemoptysis in pulmonary atresia with tranexamic acid

We report the case of a young woman with continuing haemoptysis, pulmonary atresia, previous shunt surgery, and pulmonary hypertension. She was not suitable for further surgery or for therapeutic embolisation of bronchial vessels. Treatment with tranexamic acid resolved the haemoptysis.

Hemoptysis in children

CONTEXT

Pulmonary hemorrhage and hemoptysis are uncommon in childhood, and the frequency with which they are encountered by the pediatrician depends largely on the special interests of the center to which the child is referred. Diagnosis and management of hemoptysis in this age group requires knowledge and skill in the causes and management of this infrequently occurring potentially life-threatening condition.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We reviewed the causes and treatment options for hemoptysis in the pediatric patient using Medline and Pubmed.

RESULTS

A focused physical examination can lead to the diagnosis of hemoptysis in most of the cases. In children, lower respiratory tract infection and foreign body aspiration are common causes. Chest radiographs often aid in diagnosis and assist in using two complementary diagnostic procedures, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and high-resolution computed tomography. The goals of management are threefold: bleeding cessation, aspiration prevention, and treatment of the underlying cause. Mild hemoptysis often is caused by an infection that can be managed on an outpatient basis with close monitoring. Massive hemoptysis may require additional therapeutic options such as therapeutic bronchoscopy, angiography with embolization, and surgical intervention such as resection or revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemoptysis in the pediatric patient requires prompt and thorough evaluation and treatment. An efficient systematic evaluation is imperative in identifying the underlying etiology and aggressive management is important because of the potential severity of the problem. This clinical review highlights the various etiological factors, the diagnostic and treatment strategies of hemoptysis in children.

Major hemoptysis in adolescents

The coughing up of blood or blood-tinged sputum in children is unusual but potentially lethal. The etiologies of hemoptyses in children differ from adults and vary among geographic locations. This paper reviews the clinical presentation and radiographic features of massive hemoptysis in adolescents seen in a single tertiary children's hospital in northern Taiwan during a 10-year period. Active pulmonary tuberculosis with cavity formations and dissemination, congenital heart diseases with hypertrophied bronchial artery and local bleeding were the 2 most common causes of major hemoptysis in this single institute experience. Most cases of major hemoptysis due to active pulmonary tuberculosis can be managed conservatively. For patients with respiratory compromise or hemodynamic instability, selective bronchial artery embolization effectively stopped hemoptysis without complications.

Percutaneous occlusion of a pulmonary aneurysm causing hemoptysis in a patient with pulmonary atresia and aortopulmonary collaterals

A 28-year-old male was referred for cardiac catheterization because of recurrent severe hemoptysis necessitating resuscitation and subsequently preventing weaning from ventilation. He had a history of pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta with right-sided aortic arch diagnosed at birth. Eisenmenger's syndrome ensued and he was not felt to be suitable for corrective cardiac surgery. He had multiple major aortopulmonary collateral vessels to both lungs with a large aneurysm in an artery to the right lower lobe, which was suspected to be the source of his bleeding. Occlusion of this aneurysm was achieved percutaneously using an Amplatzer septal occluder device. He had no further bleeding and was successfully weaned from ventilation. Six months later, he has recovered to his functional baseline and has not had any further episodes of hemoptysis.

Cyanotic Tetralogy of Fallot With Its Infective Endocarditis Complication on the Tricuspid and Pulmonary Valves of a 55-Year-Old Man

A 55-year-old man had undiagnosed tetralogy of Fallot with the complications of decompensated heart failure and infective endocarditis, as well as pulmonic involvement secondary to the endocarditis. The patient had a massive hemoptysis and died. This case is a rare insight into the late outcome of this congenital heart disease.

Techniques and applications of transcatheter embolization procedures in pediatric cardiology

Transcatheter embolization of congenital or acquired superfluous vascular structure has become routine procedures performed by interventional pediatric cardiologists. Embolization procedure is often part of a collaborative effort with cardiac surgeons to palliate complex congenital heart defect, such as in embolizing aortopulmonary collateral arteries in patient with single ventricle physiology. In other cases, the procedure is the definitive treatment as in embolizing coronary artery fistula. Pediatric cardiologists performing embolization procedures should be familiar with available technologies as well as understand the underlying cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology. This article provides a comprehensive review of presently available embolization agents and technologies. Some of the technologies are used only by interventional radiologists but may be useful to pediatric cardiologists. Specific clinical applications in pediatric cardiology are also discussed with summary of current literature. With continue advancement in transcatheter technology and operator expertise, all unwanted vascular communication should be amenable to transcatheter embolization.

Cor triatriatum: a cause of hemoptysis

Hemoptysis can be caused by either pulmonary or extrapulmonary causes. Congenital heart disease should be considered as a possible cause in patients who have no obvious evidence of pulmonary disease. We report on an 8-year-old girl who presented with recurrent hemoptysis without other cardiopulmonary signs, except for mild tachypnea and a prominent pulmonic component of the second heart sound, suggesting pulmonary hypertension. A chest X-ray revealed pulmonary venous congestion without other parenchymal disease. An echocardiogram revealed classical cor triatriatum, with a 6-mm orifice in the anomalous septum. Cardiac evaluation should be considered in patients with hemoptysis unexplained by pulmonary causes, even in the absence of overt cardiac symptoms.

Management of acute pulmonary hemorrhage in children

OBJECTIVE

Acute pulmonary hemorrhage can result from a variety of causes. This report offers a diagnosis and treatment plan for children with acute, life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage resulting from a variety of causes.

METHODS

Retrospective review of children with acute pulmonary hemorrhage cared for at a tertiary care children's hospital during from January 1, 1993 to September 1, 1999.

PATIENTS

Fourteen children were identified with life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage during the study period.

INTERVENTIONS

Bronchoscopy was the keystone to diagnosis of pulmonary hemorrhage in this series. All of the children underwent multiple procedures to stabilize the airway and control blood loss. These interventions included CO2 laser bronchoscopy, Nd-YAG laser bronchoscopy, endoscopic balloon occlusion of a lobe or main bronchus, topical airway vasoconstrictors, endoscopic tumor excision, transcatheter embolization of bronchial vessels, and lobectomy.

OUTCOMES

Three children died and 11 survived without neurological sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

Control of acute pulmonary hemorrhage is a difficult problem and often requires multiple procedures. Endoscopic control is usually required for palliation until more definitive therapy can be undertaken.

Unilateral absence of the left pulmonary artery associated with coronary-to-bronchial artery anastomosis

Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery and bronchial-to-coronary artery anastomosis are rarely described congenital vascular anomalies. The authors report a case of a 49-year-old female presenting with both anomalies. The presenting symptoms and pertinent diagnostic imaging are described, including conventional radiographs, angiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, and the therapeutic options available are discussed.

[Management of hemoptysis in children]

Hemoptysis in children are infrequent and often self-limiting. They are a manifestation of the broader spectrum of pulmonary haemorrhage. Diffuse pulmonary haemorrhages are often associated with diseases of other organs (cardiopathies, systemic diseases). Focal haemorrhages have multiple aetiologies, dominated by bronchopulmonary infections and cystic fibrosis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy allows one to localise the bleeding, look for local causes and diagnose pulmonary hemosiderosis by BAL. For local lesions and if the medical management fails, bronchial arteriography is indicated to perform the embolisation of the bleeding vessels.

Percutaneous Closure of Aortopulmonary Collateral for Postoperative Hemoptysis

A 30-year-old male with tetralogy of Fallot presented with a history of hemoptysis. He had a major aortopulmonary collateral artery that could not be interrupted during corrective surgery due to technical problems. Postoperative recovery was complicated by congestive heart failure. Embolization of the aortopulmonary collateral artery was planned but he developed massive hemoptysis and emergency transcatheter occlusion was performed, which successfully controlled both hemoptysis and congestive heart failure.

Hemoptysis: a 10-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Hemoptysis is uncommon in pediatric practice. We reviewed 10 years of experience with hemoptysis in a tertiary pediatric hospital to identify patient characteristics and predictors of mortality.

METHODS

Patients were divided into four age groups (0 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 20, and >20 years). Hemoptysis was defined as mild (<150 mL/day), large (150 to 400 mL/day), or massive (>400 mL/day). Fever was defined as >/=38.5 degrees C.

RESULTS

A total of 228 patients (115 males and 113 females) with 246 episodes of hemoptysis were identified and grouped according to primary diagnosis. There were 149 patients in the cystic fibrosis (CF) group, 37 in the congenital heart disease (CHD) group, and 42 in the Other group. Age was significantly higher in the CF group compared with the CHD and Other groups. Length of stay was significantly prolonged in the CF group compared with the Other group. The overall mortality was 13%. After initial analysis, mortality predictors were age, amount of hemoptysis, receipt of blood products, and fever. After stratification, we found: 1) in the >20-year age group, there was a difference in mortality when comparing CF patients with CHD patients; 2) for patients who received blood products, there were differences in mortality in patients with CF, CHD, and Other diagnoses; 3) for patients who received blood, there were differences in mortality only for the 0- to 5-year age group; and 4) the amount of hemoptysis was predictive for mortality only in CHD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemoptysis presented in young adult CF patients and in adolescent CHD patients. Young adult CF patients with hemoptysis had a higher risk of mortality compared with young adult CHD patients. The amount of hemoptysis predicted mortality only for CHD patients. Receiving blood products was predictive of mortality for all patients.

Prognosis for patients with Eisenmenger syndrome of various aetiology

The objective of this study was to determine the long-term survival pattern and variables affecting long-term survival and complications occurring during follow-up of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with Eisenmenger syndrome were followed up. A tertiary care centre was used and it provided superspeciality services in various disciplines. The subjects included 201 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome--diagnosed by a combination of echocardiography and a peripheral arterial oxygen saturation study and/or cardiac catheterisation with or without angiocardiography--worked up and followed up for variable duration over a period of 16 years from 1976 to 1992. One hundred nine patients were females and 92 were males--age of presentation varied from 3 months to 62 years (mean +/- standard deviation 19.23 +/- 12.62 years). A total of 12 different anatomic lesions were seen--the most common three being ventricular septal defect (33.33%), aterial septal defect (29.85%), and patent ductus arteriosus (14.23%). History, physical examination, chest skiagram and electrocardiogram established only the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension except where differential cyanosis indicating ductus was discernible or the degree of splitting of second heart sound provided some clue to the level of shunt. Contrast echocardiography, completed in 25.4% established the level of shunt in all patients. In others the diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterisation. Twenty patients died during a mean follow-up period of 54.6 +/- 54.47 months. Sudden cardiac deaths (30%), congestive heart failure (25%) and haemoptysis (15%) were the most predominant causes of death. Only one patient died during puerperium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevalence and risk factors for aortopulmonary collateral vessels after Fontan and bidirectional Glenn procedures

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for aortopulmonary collateral vessels in patients who have undergone a bidirectional Glenn or Fontan procedure, or both.

BACKGROUND

Aortopulmonary collateral vessels are frequently observed angiographically in patients after a bidirectional Glenn or Fontan procedure. These vessels may provide a source of pulmonary blood flow competitive with anterograde cavopulmonary flow.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of all patients (n = 196) who underwent catheterization between January 1, 1988 and February 29, 1992 (n = 268) after bidirectional Glenn or Fontan procedures and reviewed clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic phone data.

RESULTS

Collateral vessels were diagnosed in 36% of patients. Patients who underwent the bidirectional Glenn procedure were more likely to have collateral vessels than patients who underwent the Fontan procedure (65% vs. 30%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Patients with a history of a Blalock-Taussig shunt were more likely to have collateral vessels than those without (50% vs. 24%, respectively; p = 0.0006). Discretely identifiable collateral vessels were measurable in 54 (20%) of 268 catheterizations. The total estimated cross-sectional area of these vessels averaged 10.7 +/- 7.2 mm2. In patients who underwent the bidirectional Glenn procedure, a step-up in oxygen saturation from the superior vena cava to the distal pulmonary arteries or an upper lobe filling defect, or both, on pulmonary angiogram predicted total estimated cross-sectional area of collateral vessels. Most collateral vessels originated from the internal mammary arteries (34%) and the thyrocervical trunks (22%). Only 9% of collateral vessels arising from the brachiocephalic vessels were visualized by aortogram; the remainder required selective angiography in the subclavian or more distal arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortopulmonary collateral vessels are common after bidirectional Glenn and Fontan procedures. Aortograms often fail to diagnose their presence. The left to right shunt carried by these vessels is associated with a step-up in oxygen saturation in the distal pulmonary arteries. The clinical significance and indications for closure of these vessels are not known.

Cyanotic congenital heart disease and pregnancy: natural selection, pulmonary hypertension, and anesthesia

Pregnancy carries substantial maternal and fetal risks in patients with uncorrected or palliatively corrected cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). In tricuspid valve Ebstein's anomaly, pregnancy is well tolerated. Maternal mortality in tetralogy of Fallot seems to be less than 10%, but it exceeds 50% in Eisenmenger's syndrome and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Maternal hematocrit greater than 60%, arterial oxygen saturation lower than 80%, right ventricular hypertension, and syncopal episodes are poor prognostic signs. Maternal risk could be reduced by vaginal delivery. Continuous monitoring of arterial and central venous pressure, electrocardiography, and pulse oximetry are recommended for every anesthetic procedure. The use of a pulmonary artery catheter is controversial and probably should be avoided in parturients with cyanotic CHD or PPH. The choice of anesthetic technique and drugs per se is of secondary importance and should be governed by individual preferences. Titration of anesthetic drugs, general anesthesia with controlled ventilation, or, preferably, regional anesthesia with spontaneous breathing should be used cautiously to avoid worsening of the preexisting condition. Prevention of excessive erythrocytosis, volume and blood loss substitution, cardiocirculatory pharmacologic support, prophylaxis of infective endocarditis, and judicious use of anticoagulant drugs should be applied as indicated by the type and presentation of CHD. Poor outcome of pregnancy in PPH requires an early consideration of heart-lung or lung transplantation. Multidisciplinary team effort and prolonged monitoring in the intensive care unit are mandatory to ensure a favorable outcome for cyanotic CHD and PPH parturients.

Atrial septal defect presenting as recurrent primary amoebic lung abscess

A middle-aged female with an atrial septal defect (secundum type) presented with a primary pulmonary amoebic abscess. She was successfully treated with antiamoebic therapy. One year later she presented with a similar lung abscess which again responded to antiamboebic treatment. Attention is drawn to the fact that a patient with a left to right shunt can present with a recurrent rare primary parasitic infection of the lung.

Agenesis of the left pulmonary artery as a cause of hemoptysis

Agenesis of a pulmonary artery is an unusual cause of hemoptysis. Presented here is a case of agenesis of the left pulmonary artery which presented following a subendocardial infarction which raised the suspicion for pulmonary embolus. Despite a ventilation perfusion long scan which showed absent perfusion to the left lung, the clinical absence of tachypnea and dyspnea led to pulmonary angiography and thence to the correct diagnosis. Anticoagulant and/or thrombolytic therapy were withheld and the patient was treated conservatively. Agenesis of a pulmonary artery is a rare cause of hemoptysis, but may mimic pulmonary emboli and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Failure to recognize this clinical entity could lead to unwanted and potentially harmful anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy.

Hemoptysis in children

Hemoptysis is uncommon in the pediatric age group. There is little mentioned regarding this problem in either the pediatric or the otolaryngologic literature. A review of the past ten years' experience at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identified 40 patients whose presenting symptoms included hemoptysis. Causes of the hemoptysis included tumor, infection, trauma, and foreign bodies, as well as a variety of other conditions. Based on these findings, a systematic approach to the diagnostic evaluation of the pediatric patient with hemoptysis has been developed. A thorough endoscopic examination of the upper aerodigestive tract is essential in most cases, and can have both diagnostic and therapeutic value. Particular attention is directed toward airway management in patients with massive hemorrhage. Close cooperation among the bronchoesophagologist, pediatrician, and anesthesiologist is mandatory for optimal care of the child with hemoptysis.

Pulmonary aspergilloma. A report of its occurrence in 2 patients with cyanotic heart disease

This is an account of our experience with 2 patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease who developed pulmonary aspergillomas. Neither patient had a demonstrable cavity in the lung before the appearance of the fungus ball. Both patients had pulmonary artery-to-superior vena cava shunts, but the aspergilloma was in the ipsilateral lung in one and the contralateral lung in the other. Repeated life-threatening hemoptyses made excision of the lung containing the cavity and fungus ball necessary in both patients.