Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt
The Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt (BTT shunt), previously known as the Blalock-Taussig Shunt (BT shunt), is a surgical procedure used to increase blood flow to the lungs in some forms of congenital heart disease such as pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot, which are common causes of blue baby syndrome. The procedure involves connecting a branch of the subclavian artery or carotid artery to the pulmonary artery. In modern practice, this procedure is temporarily used to direct blood flow to the lungs and relieve cyanosis while the infant is waiting for corrective or definitive surgery when their heart is larger. The BTT shunt is used in the first step of the three-stage palliation (the Norwood procedure).
| Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt | |
|---|---|
Modified Blalock–Thomas-Taussig Shunt connecting right subclavian artery to pulmonary artery | |
| Other names | Blalock–Taussig shunt, BTT shunt |
| Specialty | Cardiothoracic surgery |
| Uses | Pulmonary atresia, tetralogy of Fallot |
| Complications | Chylothorax, phrenic nerve injury, pulmonary oedema, shunt stenosis, subclavian steal syndrome |
| Approach | Thoracotomy or sternotomy |
| Types | Classical, modified |
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.