Title
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