The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 29, 570-572, Copyright © 1980 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Construction of interposition polytetrafluoroethylene ascending aorta- pulmonary artery shunt
JM Ciaravella Jr and FM Midgley
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.