• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.5 s.250
• /
• pp.335-348
• /
• 2005

Background: This retrospective review examines the preoperative condition, postoperative course, mortality and cause of death for the patients who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy. Material and Method: Fifty eight patients underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunts from January 2000 to November 2003. The mean age at operation was $23.1\pm16.2$ days ($5\~81\;days$), and the mean body weight was $3.4\pm0.7\;kg\;(2.1\~4.3\;kg)$. Indications for surgery were pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in 12 cases, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in 17, single ventricle (SV) in 18, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in 11. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) was associated with SV in 4 cases. Result: There were 11 ($19.0\%$) early, and 5 ($10.6\%$) late deaths. Causes of early death included low cardiac output in 9, arrhythmia in 1, and multiorgan failure in 1. Late deaths resulted from pneumonia in 2, hypoxia in 1, and sepsis in 1. Risk factors influencing mortality were preoperative pulmonary hypertension, metabolic acidosis, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, HLHS and TAPVR. Twenty four patients ($41.4\%$) had hemodynamic instability during the 48 postoperative-hours. Six patients underwent shunt revision for occlusion, and 1 shunt division for pulmonary overflow. Conclusion: Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy had satisfactory results except in high risk groups. Many patients had early postoperative hemodynamic instability, which means that continuous close observation and management are mandatory in this period. Aggressive management may appear warranted based on understanding of hemodynamic changes for high risk groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.378-382
• /
• 1997

To evaulate the effectiveness and risk factors for shunt failure of the Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates, we analyzed the 21 neonates who were undergone Blalok-Taussig shunt operation at Dong-A University Hospital from December 1991 to Feburary 1996. We evaluated operative mortality, patency of the shunt. and distortion of pulmonary artery. We also determined the risk factors for the shunt failure. Age at operation was from 1 day to 30 days(mean 11.7 days). We ghts were 2.4 to 4.5kg(mean 3.1 kg). The underlying lesions included severe tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosls or atresia(N=11) and single ventricle varieties with. pulmonary stenosis or atresia(N=10). Prostaglandin El was given in 13 neonates prior to operation. The mean preoperative(prior to prostaglandin El therapy) and postoperative arterial oxygen tension were 30.1 mmHg and 46.3 mmHg respectively(P(0.01). The shunt was performed through a left thoracotomy in 11 patients and through a right thoracotomy In 10. A 5 mm graft was used in 15 patients and a 4 mm graft in 6 patients. The incidence of early shunt occlusion was 9.5%(2 patients). The hospital mortality was 9.5%(2 patients with early shunt occlusion). Univariate analysis revealed that body weight of 2.6 kg or less(p=0.021), pulmonary artery size of 3mm or less(p=0.008), and 4 mm graft (p=0.021) were risk factors predictive of early shunt failure. The patency rate of the shunt in hospital survivors was 100% at mean ollow-up of ll.3 months(There was not death or reoperation related to shunt failure). 10 patients were catheterized during postoperative follow-up. There was no significant distorsion of pulmonary artery. So we concluded that the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates was excellent in the hospital survivors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.136-142
• /
• 1988

Between February, 1983, and March, 1987, thirty-one systemic-pulmonary shunts were performed in 28 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Age ranged from 8 months to 28 years [mean age, 5.4 years, Weight ranged from 7 kg to 48 kg [mean weight, 16kg]. There were 4 classic Blalock-Taussig shunts, 5 central polytetrafluoroethylene shunts, 1 aorta-right pulmonary artery shunt with graft, and 21 modified Blalock-Taussig shunts. One patient required another shunt immediately due to insufficient pulmonary blood flow with patent graft. There was no postoperative death. Conduit diameters included 4mm [2 cases], 5 mm [22 cases], and 6 mm [3 cases]. Long term follow up was available in 27 patients [96.4%] with mean period of 20 months [range, 4 months to 49 months]. The effectiveness of shunt was evaluated by cardiac catheterization with angiography [15 patients] or clinically. They showed improvement of systemic oxygen saturation values by 12% and decrease of hemoglobin by 2.3gm/dl [P<0.01]. There were 2 shunt occlusion in central shunts at 32 and 48 months respectively, and one narrowing of graft in modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at 12 months. The patency rate was 91.6% at 24 months for 5 mm grafts in modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.983-988
• /
• 1995

From January 1983 to December 1994, 48 cyanotic patients were underwent a subclavian artery-pulmonary artery shunt using polytetrafluoroethylene[PTFE for the purpose of improvement of reduced pulmonary blood flow. The diameters of the PTFE used were 4mm[4 cases , 5mm[36 cases , and 6mm[8 cases sizes. The effectiveness of modified Blalock-Taussig shunts was evaluated clinically and angiographically. There were 5 early deaths and 2 late deaths. There were 3 early shunt failures and 5 late shunt failures. The overall graft patency rate was 83.3%. Postoperative hemoglobin was reduced significantly[p = 0.0011 in comparison of the preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, SaO2, PaO2, and cardiothoracic ratio.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.8
• /
• pp.573-579
• /
• 2002

Background: In this study, the role and the surgical outcome of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in the treatment of the infants with cyanotic complex congenital heart diseases were investigated. Material and Method: Over the last 12 years, 105 modified BT shunts were performed in 100 infants. Postoperative course, shunt patency rate, complications, mortality and its risk factors were reviewed restrospectively. Result: The mean age at operation was 43.0$\pm$36.6 days. Sex ratio was 60:40(M:F). The postoperative oxygen saturations were lowest after mean duration of 11 hours after the shunt procedure. The operative mortality was 8%(8) with 3 late deaths. Causes of operative death included failure of maintenance of minimum oxygenation during the procedure(2), immediate postoperative shunt occlusion(2), respiratory failure(2), low cardiac output due to heart failure and pericardial effusion(2) and sepsis(2). Late deaths resulted from acute cardiac arrest during the follow up cardiac catheterization, hypoxic myocardial failure, and arrhythmia. Year of surgery, shunt size, age at operation, and complexity of the anomalies were not the risk factors for mortality. Six month shunt patency rate was 97% and overall patency rate was 96%. Postoperative complications comprised of shunt occlusion(6), phrenic nerve palsy(3), and wound infection(2). Conclusion: We demonstrated that modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was a useful tool to palliate the infants with complex cyanotic heart disease in whom early complete repair was not feasible with acceptable mortality and patency rate. An adequate postoperative management and a meticulous surgical technique may be key factors for the better results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 1988

This report provides follow-up data on 116 patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease, aging 1 month to 13 years [median: 1.8 years], who underwent the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using polytetrafluoroethylene graft at Seoul National University Hospital between September, 1984 and June, 1987. Among 116 patients complete follow-up studies were done on 95 patients. The mean preoperative arterial oxygen tension was 36 torr. Thirty-Six patients [38%] underwent operation in infancy. Conduit diameters included 4mm [15 cases], 5mm [47 cases], and 6mm [33 cases] sizes. The mean postoperative arterial oxygen tension was 52 torr [P<0.001]. The effectiveness of shunts was evaluated clinically and by shunt murmur, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization with angiography 1 to 31 months after operation. The incidence of shunt occlusion was 9.5% and the mortality was 14.8%. The actuarial patency rate was 83.1 * 6.4% and the actuarial survival rate was 82.5 * 4.5% at 30 months` follow-up for all patients. The effectiveness of the 4mm diameter conduit may be limited. Blalock-Taussig procedure is an effective alternative to the classic B-T shunt in congenital cyanotic heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1121-1124
• /
• 1997

This is a report of a successful, rapid two-stage arterial switch operation in an infant with dextrotransposition of great arteries with an intact ventricular septum beyond the appropriate time for arterial switch operation.'A 4-month-old female infant was admitted due to severe cyanosis, respiratory insufficiency, and frequent dia rhea secondary to ischemic colitis. Echocardiographic examination presented marked leftward deviation of the interventricular septum, and left and right ventricular pressures as measured by cardiac catheterization were 40/4 mmHg and 85/2 mmHg, respectively. Fifteen days after a preparatory operation (pulmonary artery band with modified right Blalock-Taussig shunt), left ventricular-right ventricular systolic pressure ratio increased to 105/90. Arterial switch operation associated with the division of the right Blalock-Taussig shunt and the removal of pulmonary artery band was performed. A(leer the operation, the infant showed normal cardiac function with no postoperative complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.518-521
• /
• 2010

A one-day-old baby was transferred for cyanosis and heart murmur. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed that he had severe neonatal Ebstein's anomaly (Carpentier type C), pulmonary atresia, and pulmonary circulation via patent ductus arteriosus. Because the wall of the atrialized right ventricle was very thin, showed decreased contractility, and the small right ventricle showed pulmonary atresia, we decided that a two-ventricular repair was impossible. When the patient was one-month-old, he underwent right atrium reduction-plasty, a right ventricular exclusion procedure (including atrialized right ventricle resection and functional right ventricle plication), and right modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. He was discharged without specific problems. He received a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt successfully at 4 months later.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.12 s.269
• /
• pp.927-930
• /
• 2006

Hybrid procedure was performed for a thirteen-day-old girl with a functionally single ventricle, who weighed 2.2 kg and had been prematurely born at $32^{+5}$ weeks of gestation. She underwent bilateral pulmonary artery banding using 3.5 mm Gore-Tex graft, ductal stenting using balloon expandable stent, and reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt with 3.5 mm Gore-Tex vascular graft. After discharge, she was followed up for 4 months, and underwent 2nd stage operation(extensive arch reconstruction with Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomosis, atrial septectomy, bilateral pulmonary artery angioplasty, bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt). She has been followed up for 4 months after the 2nd operation with an excellent clinical condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.716-722
• /
• 2000

Background: Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using 3mm or 3.5mm PTFE graft has been performed in patients with small body weight or in candidates for single ventricle palliation. However, there are few reports concerning clinical outcomes in terms of pulmonary artery growth and shunt patency rate after shunt operations using such a small graft. Material and Method: Twenty-five patients rate after shunt operations using 3 or 3.5 mm sized grafts from September 1996 to August 1999. We retrospectively assessed the pulmonary artery growth and the shunt patency rate by reviewing the pre-and post-operative pulmonary angiograms. The risk factors for late death and second shunt operations were also analyzed. To assess the presence of any correlation between body weight and selection of the graft size, regression analysis was done in 81 cases of shunt operations performed during the same period. Result: There were 1(4%) early death and 5(20%) late deaths. The survivors were followed up for an average of 7.34 months. The pulmonary artery index increased significantly from 129$\pm$66$\textrm{mm}^2$/$m^2$ to 213$\pm$114 $\textrm{mm}^2$/$m^2$(p=0.002). The shunt patency rate assessed at postoperative 2, 4, 6 and 8 months were 82.5%, 77%, 73% and 42% respectively with a marked decline between 6 and 8 months. Asplenia was a frequent finding for the patients with late death although the incidence failed to reach statistical significance(p=0.078). Pre-operative diagnosis of PA with VSD was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for a second shunt operation(p=0.01). Body weight(a) at operation and graft size(b) used in the shunt operations revealed strong correlation and could be expressed by the following formula; b=0.128a + 3.233. Conclusion: Adequate growth of pulmonary artery and satisfactory early patency rate could be obtained by modified Blalock-Taussing shunt using 3mm or 3.5mm graft. However, during 6 to 8 months after shunt operations, the patency rate fell sharply, which implicates that close observation and early intervention are mandatory in this period.