Pulmonary artery growth after bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt: is there a cause for concern?
A more appropriate measure of pulmonary artery growth is the indexed cross-sectional area of the lower lobe branch of the right and left pulmonary arteries, which is less likely to be altered surgically with systemic-pulmonary shunts, pulmonary artery repair, and the bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis itself. Pulmonary artery indices, including the lower lobe index, do not change significantly after bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt during medium-term follow-up and do not influence the Fontan outcome.
The activation of P2X7 receptors by ATP induces apoptosis and autophagy in human epithelial cells, possibly via ROS production, and this effect might have implications for gut inflammatory conditions.