Successful balloon dilatation of ascending vein stenosis in obstructed supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

A newborn infant presenting with severe hypoxia and pulmonary edema was found to have supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). There was a severe localized stenosis (gradient > 30 mmHg) of the vein ascending from the pulmonary venous confluence. Balloon dilatation of the stenosis provided immediate and effective relief of the obstruction (gradient 4 mmHg) until surgery was performed. In sick neonates with discretely obstructed anomalous pulmonary venous connection, short-term hemodynamic stability may be achieved by balloon angioplasty of the site of obstruction.