Rana JS, Ahmad KA, Shamim AS, Hassan SB, Ahmed MA. Blalock-Taussig shunt: Experience from the developing world.
Heart Lung Circ 2002;
11:152-6. [PMID:
16352089 DOI:
10.1046/j.1444-2892.2002.00145.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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.
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