• Brian Kogon, Craig Villari, Neil Shah, Paul Kirshbom, Kirk Kanter, Dennis Kim, Anthony Raviele, and Robert Vincent.
• Emory University-Cardiothoracic Surgery, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
• Congenit Heart Dis. 2007 May 1;2(3):185-90.

ObjectiveTo report unique methods of treatment and review catheter-based intervention for occluded modified Blalock-Taussig shunts (BTS).MethodsCase reports and articles involving children undergoing catheter-based treatment for occluded modified BTS were reviewed.ResultsLiterature review detailed 38 patients in whom occluded modified BTS were treated with 39 catheter-based interventions. Thrombolytics alone were delivered by catheter in 13 cases. Balloon angioplasty was performed in 23 cases, 5 with stent implantation. Both thrombolytic delivery and angioplasty were performed in 3 cases, 2 with stent implantation. Intervention was initially successful at re-establishing modified BTS patency in 35/39 (90%) of cases. Patency could not be established in 2 patients who then proceeded to the operating for surgical shunt revision. Two deaths occurred during the procedures. Three cases at Emory University demonstrate uncommon or unique instances of catheter-based intervention: (1) declotting of a shunt in a patient supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); (2) declotting of a shunt via a right axillary arterial approach; and (3) declotting of a shunt using a carotid arterial (ECMO) cannula for percutaneous access.ConclusionsThe use of catheter-based techniques for the treatment of BTS occlusion is highly successful, and potentially avoids high-risk re-operative intervention. ECMO can provide for a stable patient during the procedure. Hopefully, with improved technology and innovative procedures, more children in the future with BTS occlusion can be served by successful percutaneous intervention.

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