The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Comparative Study
A comparison of Blalock-Taussig, Waterston, and polytetrafluoroethylene shunts in children less than two weeks of age.
Results obtained with Blalock-Taussig, Waterston, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) shunts were compared in 67 cyanotic infants less than 2 weeks of age. A different shunt was preferably used at each of three institutions. The incidences of early shunt failure (3 out of 21, 14%), mortality after revision of early shunt failure (0 out of 3), and overall hospital mortality (1 out of 21, 5%) were all lowest for the PTFE shunt. ⋯ At 1 year, all shunts provided comparable adequate palliation (greater than 80%). Probability of late shunt failure was significantly higher (p = 0.04) for the PTFE shunt at 3.5 years. Results suggest that the PTFE shunt may be the safest and most effective shunt in neonates, but that elective shunt replacement or total repair may be warranted in the first or second year of life.