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Article
November 1975

Palliation of Tricuspid Atresia: Potts-Smith, Glenn, and Blalock-Taussig Shunts

Author Affiliations

From the Cardiovascular Division of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

Arch Surg. 1975;110(11):1383-1386. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1975.01360170123018
Abstract

• Aortopulmonary (Potts-Smith), subclavian-pulmonary (Blalock-Taussig), and cavopulmonary (Glenn) shunts are the commonly performed operations for palliation of tricuspid atresia. A total of 104 patients with tricuspid atresia have undergone these procedures, either alone or in combination over a 28-year-period at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Operative risk is high in the first six months of life (44%), reasonable after six months of age (7.4%), and low for reoperation (3.5%).

Long-term palliation of the 75 survivors (mean follow-up, 8.5 years) is compared for the three operative groups and charted on an actuarial table. Potts shunt offers superior long-term palliation. Therefore, as an overall plan of management, a Potts shunt with restriction of its anastomotic growth is the initial procedure of choice. When the patient outgrows the Potts shunt, a Glenn anastomosis is constructed. Ideally, the combination of these two shunts will produce a balanced circulation offering excellent long-term palliation.

(Arch Surg 110:1383-1386, 1975)

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