title: Neonatal Blalock-Taussig shunt: technical aspects and postoperative management.
abstract: A systemic-pulmonary artery shunt in neonates with decreased pulmonary blood flow is technically demanding. We describe our surgical technique, postoperative management, and results in 19 neonates who underwent a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt between April 2003 and March 2006. Prostaglandin infusion was required in 8 patients who were critically cyanosed, and 5 were on inotropic support preoperatively. A 3.5 or 4.0-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft was anastomosed with 8/0 polypropylene suture. Postoperatively, systemic pressure was kept slightly higher than normal, and heparin was started early. One patient required revision of the shunt, and one was reexplored for bleeding. There were 2 hospital deaths (mortality, 11%) in patients with preoperative hemodynamic instability. The mean follow-up period was 12 months, with no late postoperative shunt blockage or death. Meticulous surgical technique and judicious use of heparin and inotropic agents improved the outcome and reduced the incidence of shunt blockage and reexploration for bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Apollo Children's Heart Hospital, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dharmapuram
authors.forename: Pramod
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Nagarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramdoss
authors.forename: Sreekanth S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: Samba M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kona
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012086:Reoperation; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D006493:Heparin