Construction of interposition polytetrafluoroethylene ascending aorta-pulmonary artery shunt

The technique for constructing an ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery interposition shunt using a short segment of polytetrafluoroethylene is described. This technique has been used in 8 neonates ranging from 1 day to 11 months old. There has been 1 shunt-related death. There have been no clotted grafts or graft kinking noted. A continuous running suture placed before the graft is lowered into position facilitates exposure and suture placement. A median sternotomy or sternal transection has not been necessary.