Author(s)

F. Migliavacca, M.R. de Leval, G. Dubini, R. Pietrabissa & P.M. Monte vecchi

Abstract

Flow competition in the bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis F. Migliavacca,* M.R. de Leval,* G. Dubini,* R. Pietrabissa^ P.M. Monte vecchi^ "Cardiothoracic Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, ^Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy 1 Introduction The bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA), known also as bidirectional Glenn, 1*2 has facilitated biventricular repair in patients with pulmonary atresia, intact ventricular septum and hypoplasia of the right ventricle. ^ The BCPA is an operation to treat some congenital heart diseases by diverting the systemic venous return from the superior vena cava to both lungs. The surgical procedure is an end- to-side anastomosis of the superior vena cava to the distal end of the divided right pulmonary artery with closure of the superior vena cavoatrial junction. The advantages of such a type of systemic-venous-to pulmonary artery shunt over a systemic-artery-to-pulmonary artery shunt (Bla

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