The Blalock-Taussig shunt in the newborn infant.
Children with pulmonary oligemia often require palliation in the newborn period. The Blalock-Taussig shunt has been shown to offer adequate palliation in the older child, but its use in the newborn period remains controversial. A retrospective review of 51 neonates younger than age 2 weeks undergoing a Blalock-Taussig shunt (or modification) was performed. The operative mortality rate was 5.8%. Six children (15.4%) required reoperation in the first year of life for inadequate shunt function. The modification with interposition grafts necessitated reoperation more often than shunts performed with the subclavian artery.
Smith
V C
VC
Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, San Antonio, TX 78236-5300.
Caggiano
A V
AV
Knauf
D G
DG
Alexander
J A
JA
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010166:Palliative Care; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate