Successful palliation by pulmonary artery banding in absent pulmonary valve syndrome with aneurysmal pulmonary arteries

Three infants with absent pulmonary valve syndrome were treated between 1977 and 1980. All infants were in critical cardiorespiratory failure refractory to medical therapy. Pulmonary artery banding was performed to reduce the volume occupied by the large pulsating pulmonary artery in a limited mediastinal space. The band reduced tracheobronchial compression and increased effective cardiac output. All three infants survived the procedure and, at follow-up, significant improvement in cardiorespiratory function has been noted, with satisfactory growth. This experience suggests that pulmonary artery banding has a place in the initial management of absent pulmonary valve syndrome, allowing survival so that total correction can be undertaken more safely at a later stage.