Temporary one-and-a-half ventricular repair to relieve lymphomatous obstruction of the pulmonary artery

Mediastinal lymphoma may infiltrate the conoarterial junction of the heart and cause life-threatening compression of the pulmonary artery. Partial debulking of the tumor along the left pulmonary artery and creation of a cavopulmonary anastomosis on the right pulmonary artery restored satisfactory perfusion of the lungs and unloading of the right ventricle in a 19-year-old woman. Remission of the tumor after chemotherapy allowed subsequent takedown of the cavopulmonary anastomosis. (Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1702-4) (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.