title: Tricuspid atresia with normal axis on ECG palliated with a central shunt; a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tricuspid Atresia is the 3rd commonest cyanotic congenital Heart disease. It is characterized by lack of communication between the right atrium and right ventricle. The treatment often requires a palliative systemic to pulmonary shunt before definite surgery. The use of a central shunt via a median sternotomy is suggested here as an alternative to other traditional shunts via a thoracotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The management of a 3-month-old boy who presented with dyspnoea, fever, cough and cyanosis is presented here as obtained from Clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following resuscitation, a central shunt (Ascending Aorta to main Pulmonary Artery) was constructed and the patient did well despite a turbulent post-operative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of tricuspid atresia likes other cyanotic heart disease is daunting but palliative treatment is possible in our environment and definitive treatment where possible affords a fairly satisfactory prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika-Zaria. edais23@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Edaigbini
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ekpe
authors.forename: M A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aghaji
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D018785:Tricuspid Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery