Long-term shunt palliation for Fallot's tetralogy

One hundred and sixty-two systemic-pulmonary shunts of various types were performed in 136 patients with Fallot's tetralogy. There were 72 Blalock-Taussig shunts, 31 Potts and 24 of Waterston shunts. Furthermore, systemic-pulmonary anastomoses with interposed grafts were made in 34 cases. The patients were followed up for 1 to 23 years, average 12 1/2 years. The total mortality varied from 25% in the Waterston group to 42% in the Potts group. The immediate palliative effect of the shunt operation in the surviving patients seemed to be independent of the type of shunt used. At follow-up, 9 of 69 patients originally operated upon with a Blalock-Taussig shunt were alive with their original shunt, while the corresponding figure in the Potts group was 12 of 30. More than 20 years after palliation, one of 15 patients were alive with an original Blalock-Taussig shunt and 9 of 22 with a Potts anastomosis. Surgical problems in construction of the shunts and the long-term results are briefly discussed.