Pulmonary artery atresia

Last revised by Mostafa Elfeky on 18 Feb 2021

Pulmonary artery atresia (or sometimes known as pulmonary atresia) is a congenital cardiovascular anomaly in which there is complete disruption between the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the pulmonary trunk.

The estimated incidence is 1 in 10,000 births.

The term pulmonary atresia can cover a broad spectrum of abnormalities depending on the extent of the disruption.

It can be classified into three types 1:

  • tetralogy of Fallot: PA-VSD is considered by some authors as a severe form of tetralogy of Fallot
  • truncus arteriosus (Collett and Edwards type IV) or pseudotruncus: recognized to be a form of PA-VSD rather than truncus arteriosus 2
  • heterotaxy syndrome: pulmonary atresia is present in two-fifths of right isomerism cases 9
  • normal or mildly enlarged heart with poor or diminished pulmonary arterial vascular markings 3
  • asymmetrical vascular suggests stenosis within pulmonary arterial tree 3
  • there can be plethora due to horizontal arteries forming aortopulmonary collaterals 3
  • mottled appearance as the lung periphery may suggest pleuro-pulmonary collateral formation 3
  • severe cardiomegaly from massive right atrial dilatation 10 

Echocardiography can characterize intracardiac anatomy. Has a limited role in assessing pulmonary artery anatomy. 

MDCT is better than echocardiography for pulmonary artery anatomy.  It allows evaluation of the following 4:

  • length of pulmonary atresia
  • presence of pulmonary artery confluence
    • seagull appearance of the confluent pulmonary arteries and abbreviated pulmonary trunk
  • size of main, right, and left pulmonary arteries at the origin and at the hilum
  • presence of branch pulmonary artery stenosis
  • sources of pulmonary blood flow to each lung, including the number of bronchopulmonary segments supplied by native pulmonary arteries and the distribution of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs)

Allows direct visualization of the anomaly. Cine sequences may show a dilated non contracting right ventricle 5. MR angiography allows detection of aortopulmonary collaterals and patent ductus arteriosus (if present).

  • management varies depending on the presence of a VSD.
    • one surgical technique includes the unifocalisation procedure which can be performed in cases with complete pulmonary artery atresia with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs)
  • prostaglandin E1 is used to keep the ductus open 6

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