BT Shunt:

Blalock-Taussig shunts, often known as BT shunts, are used to treat abnormalities that impede blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary atresia, pulmonary stenosis, and tricuspid atresia are among them.

The BT shunt is a treatment for palliative purposes. It doesn't fix the problem, but it can assist with symptoms until the child is older and/or the problem can be fixed. The surgery is also known as the "blue baby" operation.

A shunt is a tiny tube composed of Gore-Tex, a synthetic material. The BT shunt has a diameter of 3 to 3.5 mm. It creates a detour by connecting a segment of the aorta to the pulmonary artery. This permits enough blood to travel through the lungs, allowing for more oxygen to be taken in. The shunt eliminates any cyanosis or blueness that the youngster was experiencing. It is a closed-heart surgery.

The BT shunt performs the same function as the ductus arteriosus. It is frequently implanted after the ductus normally shuts. Shunts are often utilised for four to five months, or until the kid outgrows them and requires a second surgery or permanent repair.

KEY POINTS: 

- Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunts serve to alleviate symptoms of the condition until the kid reaches adulthood or the defect can be fixed.

- The shunt acts as a detour, allowing enough blood to travel past the lungs and absorb more oxygen.

- A closed-heart operation is done to place the shunt. 

- Shunts are routinely used for four to five months before permanent repair is necessary.

RISKS:

Shunt obstruction, tube infection, and increased blood flow to the lungs, which can lead to vascular injury or reduced blood supply to the brain and body, are all risks.

Disease Overview:

Pulmonary atresia

Pulmonary atresia is a congenital cardiac abnormality that is usually discovered shortly after birth. The valve that sends blood out of the heart and into your or your baby's lungs (pulmonary valve) does not develop properly in pulmonary atresia.

Blood cannot follow its typical course to gather up oxygen from the lungs without a link from the pumping chamber to the pulmonary artery. Instead, some blood passes through other natural passageways within the heart and its arteries on its way to the lungs.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

If your infant has pulmonary atresia, symptoms will appear shortly after delivery. The following are some of your baby's indications and symptoms:

- Skin with a blue or grey tone (cyanosis)

- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath 

- Easily Tiring or Fatigued

- Feeding issues

Disease Causes:

As with most congenital heart diseases, there is no known cause of pulmonary atresia. The condition is linked with another type of congenital heart defect called a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Pulmonary atresia may occur with or without a ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Diagnosis:

The following tests may be used to identify pulmonary atresia:

• Pulse oximetry: This noninvasive test uses a tiny clamp-like device that is put on a finger, earlobe, or toe to monitor oxygen levels in the blood.
• X-ray: It depicts the size and form of your child's interior organs, bones, and tissues. This can assist your baby's doctor in determining the amount of his or her pulmonary atresia.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test uses sensor patches with wires connected (electrodes) to measure your child's heart's electrical impulses. This test looks for aberrant cardiac rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias) as well as heart muscle tension.
• Echocardiogram: Sound waves generate detailed pictures of your child's heart in an echocardiogram. An echocardiography is often used by your child's doctor to identify pulmonary atresia.
• Cardiac catheterization: This test involves your child's doctor inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood artery in his or her groyne and using X-ray imaging to guide it to his or her heart. This test gives you extensive information on your child's cardiac anatomy, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in the heart, pulmonary artery, and aorta.
• CT scan: A CT scan of the chest reveals the heart's anatomy as well as the location of the pulmonary artery.
  

Disease Treatment:

Once pulmonary atresia signs appear, your infant will require immediate medical intervention. The type of surgery or operation your kid has is determined by the severity of his or her disease

Once pulmonary atresia signs appear, your infant will require immediate medical intervention. The type of surgery or operation your kid has is determined by the severity of his or her disease

Medications:

Prostaglandin, an injectable medication, prevents the natural link (ductus arteriosus) between the pulmonary artery and the aorta from closing. This isn't a long-term solution, but it provides your physicians more time to figure out what kind of surgery or operation is ideal for your child.

Catheterization procedures:

In certain situations, repairs can be done using a long, thin tube (catheter) put into a major vein in your baby's groyne and threaded up to the heart.

These procedures include:

- Balloon atrial septostomy.

- Stent placement

Heart surgery:

- BT Shunt

- Fontan procedure

- Glenn procedure

- Heart transplant

Prostaglandin, an injectable medication, prevents the natural link (ductus arteriosus) between the pulmonary artery and the aorta from closing. This isn't a long-term solution, but it provides your physicians more time to figure out what kind of surgery or operation is ideal for your child.

Catheterization procedures:

In certain situations, repairs can be done using a long, thin tube (catheter) put into a major vein in your baby's groyne and threaded up to the heart.

These procedures include:

- Balloon atrial septostomy.

- Stent placement

Heart surgery:

- BT Shunt

- Fontan procedure

- Glenn procedure

- Heart transplant