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Vertebrobasilar stroke as a late complication of a Blalock-Taussig shunt
Philippe Gailloud1, Argye Hillis, Bruce Perler
1Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA. phg@jhmi.edu
Annals of Neurology
|September 5, 2002
Insights
A cerebellar infarct occurred in a 39-year-old patient with corrected tetralogy of Fallot. This rare vertebrobasilar stroke is a late complication of childhood Blalock-Taussig shunt and cardiac repair.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect.
- Surgical correction, including Blalock-Taussig shunt and total cardiac repair, is often performed in childhood.
- Late complications after congenital heart defect repair can occur.
Observation:
- A 39-year-old patient with a history of corrected tetralogy of Fallot presented with a cerebellar infarct.
- This infarct affected the vertebrobasilar arteries.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of a vertebrobasilar stroke as a late complication following a Blalock-Taussig shunt and subsequent total cardiac repair.
- The stroke was attributed to the long-term effects of the surgical interventions for the congenital heart defect.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for rare neurological complications years after congenital heart defect surgery.
- Suggests the need for long-term monitoring of patients with complex congenital heart disease.
- Underscores the importance of considering surgical history in the evaluation of stroke in young adults.
Abstract:
We describe a 39-year-old patient with a cerebellar infarct and a history of a tetralogy of Fallot corrected during childhood. This is the first documented case of vertebrobasilar stroke occurring as a late complication of a Blalock-Taussig shunt followed by total cardiac repair.