Serous fluid leakage after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: a cause of hypercyanotic episodes.
We report a case of a 10-week-old girl, with tetralogy of Fallot and a Blalock-Taussig shunt, who presented with hypercyanotic episodes. She was found to have serous fluid leakage around her shunt, causing compression of her trachea. Hypercyanotic episodes resulting from shunt leakage have not previously been reported. An awareness of this possible complication of a Blalock-Taussig shunt will allow the emergency physician to consider it in the differential diagnosis of hypercyanotic episodes.
Powell
E C
EC
Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. epowell@nwu.edu
Banday
A
A
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001826:Body Fluids; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000601:surgery; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene