Superior Vena Cava Banding to Facilitate Unilateral Bidirectional Glenn Operation in Patients With Single Ventricle Heart Disease and Bilateral Superior Caval Veins.

Staged palliation to achieve a total cavopulmonary connection is a common treatment strategy in patients with single ventricle congenital heart disease. Patients with bilateral superior caval veins (bilateral SVC) often require the creation of bilateral superior cavopulmonary connections as part of the staged palliation, and these patients are at increased risk of morbidity. We describe a novel technique used in two patients with bilateral SVC and very small (1-2 mm) bridging vein that encouraged bridging vein growth and facilitated creation of a unilateral superior cavopulmonary connection.