Blalock-Taussig shunt: experience from the developing world
Document Type
Article
Department
Internal Medicine
Abstract
Background: Palliative procedures have a role in congenital cardiac malformations that do not permit a complete early repair, and in centres where facilities for complete early repair do not exist. The lack of data on modified Blalock-Taussig shunt from developing countries prompted this analysis.
Methods: We report a retrospective study of 70 Blalock-Taussig shunt procedures in 63 patients over an 8-year period. Most of the procedures (54.0%) were done on children less than 4 months of age. Thirty-nine (58%) patients had Tetralogy of Fallot; the remaining patients had a wide spectrum of lesions.
Results: In the first year of the review period, the classical Blalock-Taussig shunt was done in six patients (9.5%) and the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was used thereafter. In 49 patients who were followed up long term, clinical congestive cardiac failure developed in three (6%) and shunt failure was reported in 10 (14%). Of the 16 (33%) total deaths, six had serious comorbid conditions preoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: The Blalock-Taussig shunt is a relatively safe palliative procedure, requiring fewer resources and less expertise than corrective surgery, making it a suitable option in developing countries.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Heart, Lung and Circulation
Recommended Citation
Rana, J. S.,
Ahmad, K. A.,
Shamim, A. S.,
Hassan, S. B.,
Ahmed, M. A.
(2002). Blalock-Taussig shunt: experience from the developing world. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 11(3), 152-156.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_intern_med/49