Superior Cavopulmonary Anastomosis in Patients With Bilateral Superior Caval Veins: Use of a Rolled Pericardial Graft to Create a Single Caval Vein

We propose a new surgical technique for superior cavopulmonary anastomosis in patients with functionally univentricular heart and bilateral superior caval veins. One of the reasons for failure of bidirectional Glenn shunts in patients with bilateral superior caval veins is the small caliber of one or both veins, with limited flow through each cavopulmonary anastomosis that can easily result in torsion, blockage, or clot formation. The conversion of two small superior caval veins into a single confluence which is large enough to connect with the pulmonary artery (PA) can resolve this problem. We present our experience with two cases in which a rolled pericardial graft was used to create a single caval vein to provide balanced pulmonary blood flow and yield growth of the central PA as well as reducing the likelihood of thrombus formation.