On-Table Verification of Aortopulmonary Shunt Patency Through Ipsilateral Pulmonary Venous Blood Flow Assessment by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is a well-established modality for the evaluation of the adequacy of the surgical repair of complex congenital heart lesions. This case report highlights the important role played by real-time transesophageal echocardiography during the evaluation of the patency of a left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in a child with pulmonary atresia, nonconfluent pulmonary arteries, and borderline hemodynamic/ventilator parameters. Changes observed in the pulmonary venous blood flow pattern provided reassurance to the surgical team about the patency of the shunt and thereby avoided its reconstruction.