Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: statistical analysis of potential factors influencing shunt outcome

From January 1986 to December 1991, 100 modified Blalock-Taussig Shunts (MBTS) using PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) grafts were performed on 86 patients with complex cyanotic congenital cardiac malformations at this hospital. The ages of patients ranged from 15 days to 22 years. Thirty-seven were operated upon in infancy and one in the neonatal period. Varying sizes of grafts were used: 3 mm in 3 cases, 4 mm in 18, 5 mm in 44, 6 mm in 34 and 8 mm in one. The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months (ranged from one to 50 months). There were one hospital mortality and one morbidity. One year shunt patency rate was 90%. Univariate analysis showed the age of the patient operated upon and graft size were risk factors for shunt patency. With an encouraging 90% early shunt patency rate, we can now adopt MBTS as an alternative without hesitancy. Yet, the surgical technique and perioperative care of those cyanotic neonates receiving this palliation still remain a challenge.