Anatomy in Patients with 22q11 Deletion and Pulmonary Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect and Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with and without 22q11 deletion undergoing surgery for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals between January 2004 and August 2009 at our institutions. Information was collected on collateral origin, arch sidedness, presence of central pulmonary arteries, and presence of an aberrant subclavian vessel. While patients with 22q11 deletion were more likely to have collateral origin from brachiocephalic vessels, patients without 22q11 deletion were more likely to have collateral origin from the descending aorta. There was no significant difference in arch sidedness or the presence of central pulmonary arteries. Patients with 22q11 deletion were more likely to have an aberrant subclavian artery (15/46 vs 5/54, p < 0.05), whether a left or right arch was present. Nine of the fifteen 22q11 deletion patients had a collateral originating from an aberrant subclavian artery. In time, genomic and embryologic research may help determine the exact mechanisms by which 22q11 deletion contributes to the development of congenital heart disease such as pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals.