Pulmonary Emphysematous Changes in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Associated with Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow: Evaluation Using Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography

Background The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the location of segmental emphysematous change in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients with increased pulmonary blood flow using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Methods A total of 129 consecutive patients (mean age, 5.8 ± 5.4 years; range, 1 month to 24 years) underwent MDCT angiography of the thorax. The frequency of emphysematous change was evaluated in patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD, n = 61), atrial septal defect (ASD, n = 27), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, n = 36) and complete atriventriclar septal defect (CAVSD, n = 5). In 59 patients who underwent cardiac catheterisation, the relationships between the emphysematous change and both pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) were evaluated. Results The emphysematous change was detected in 57 patients (44.2%) out of 129 patients. The frequency of segmental emphysematous change in left side was higher than in right side (14.8% vs. 6.5%). Both Qp/Qs and mPAP affected the presence of emphysema. Conclusion MDCT can provide accurate detection of segmental emphysema in patients with CHD. Emphysematous change is not uncommon pathological lesion in children and adolescents with CHD.