# Serial echocardiography in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: diagnosing and managing recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis

## TL;DR

Serial echocardiography helps diagnose and manage recurring pulmonary vein stenosis in preterm infants with lung disease.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the value of serial echocardiography in detecting and managing recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

## Key findings

- Preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia are at higher risk for recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis.
- Serial echocardiography enables early detection and timely intervention for pulmonary vein stenosis.
- Respiratory deterioration in these infants should prompt echocardiographic evaluation for PVS.

## Abstract

To highlight the importance of serial echocardiography in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to diagnose recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) and understand its contribution to respiratory deteriorations.

A preterm female infant born at 23+5 weeks gestation had numerous complications related to extreme prematurity, including BPD. She was diagnosed with PVS on echocardiogram after experiencing recurrent respiratory deteriorations and pulmonary hypertensive crises. Initial management involved transcutaneous balloon dilatation. A serial echocardiographic programme was implemented, with weekly monitoring of PVS. She suffered multiple respiratory deteriorations secondary to recurrence of PVS, necessitating repeat cardiac catheterisations and transcatheter stenting. Systemic macrolide therapy with sirolimus was used as adjunctive therapy.

Extremely prematurely born infants who develop BPD are at higher risk of recurrent PVS. We demonstrate that serial echocardiographic monitoring facilitates early diagnosis and prompt intervention of PVS. Any respiratory deterioration in such infants should be assessed by an echocardiogram.