Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2005 May;38(5):335-348.

Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt for the Patients with Complex Congenital Heart Defects in Early Infancy

• Lim HG
• Lee CH
• Kim WH
• Hwang SW
• Lee C
• Kim CW

Abstract

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. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty eight patients underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunts from January 2000 to November 2003. The mean age at operation was 23.1+/-16.2 days (5~81 days), and the mean body weight was 3.4+/-0.7 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.

Keyword

Congenital heart disease; Blalock-Taussig shunt; Infant

MeSH Terms

Acidosis
Anoxia
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Blalock-Taussig Procedure*
Body Weight
Cardiac Output, Low
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Cause of Death
Heart Defects, Congenital*
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Infant
Mortality
Pneumonia
Pulmonary Atresia
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Scimitar Syndrome
Sepsis
Ventricular Septum