Objective:
The idea of improving systemic oxygen saturation in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease and decreased pulmonary blood flow by creating a shunt between a systemic artery and the pulmonary artery was introduced clinically by Blalock and Taussig in 1945.
Indications for systemic pulmonary shunt are variable, the general ones are cyanotic complex defect, hypoplastic pulmonary artery, hypoplasia of pulmonary artery annulus, neonates with TOF and pulmonary atresia, tricuspid atresia. In such cases two stage corrections decrease porstoperative early mortality.
Methods:
From June 2008 to December 2008, 3 patients underwent systemic- pulmonary shunt of the modified Blalock Taussig type, using a new type of biological graft (Shelhigh NO-REACT® tubular graft).
Result:
No patient died at postoperative period, none of the cases were re-operated due to acute graft occlusion and/or thrombosis and/or kinking. No bleeding was observed during surgery or in the postoperative period, drainages were at acceptable limits. Echocardiography was performed on all patients and patent turbulent flows of shunts were seen.
Discussion:
The biological graft proved to be effective for replacing inorganic grafts in modified Blalock-Taussig shunts, because of its excellent performance with no bleeding during surgery and in the postoperative period, easy technical management, technical reproducibility. We think that biological graft is a good alternative to PTFE, and it can replace PTFE grafts in the future.