Demonstration of ascending aorta in hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aortic atresia by balloon occlusion aortography.

Balloon occlusion angiography in the descending aorta produced clear retrograde visualization of the hypoplastic ascending aorta and related structures in eighteen neonates with aortic atresia. Transient bradycardia was the only complication observed. It is technically simpler than retrograde cannulation of the aorta via an arteriotomy and should be the method of choice when cardiac catheterization is required in patients with the hypoplastic left heart syndrome.