Blalock-Taussig Shunt Using Fresh Saphenous Vein Homograft

The occurrence of life-threatening early and late complications following the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for modified Blalock-Taussig shunts prompted the application of saphenous vein homografts instead. In 21 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease, fresh saphenous vein homografts were used for Blalock-Taussig shunts from February 1998. The veins were obtained from blood-group matched patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting in the next operating room. There was no early or late mortality. Clinical and echocardiographic studies showed that all shunts were patent and functioning well at an average follow-up of 11 months. This simple homograft technique has no ischemic time and requires no chemical or antibiotic contact.