Post Blalock–Taussig shunt mediastinal mass – a single shadow with two different destinies

The modified Blalock–Taussig shunt is a synthetic shunt between the subclavian and pulmonary artery, used in the treatment of congenital cyanotic heart diseases with pulmonary hypoperfusion. Delayed complications include progressive failure of the shunt, serous fluid leak, and pseudoaneurysm formation. We report two different and rare mediastinal vascular complications following modified BT shunt surgery in this case report. The first one is a seroma, due to serous fluid leakage through the shunt graft, which is a relatively benign complication. The second one is a pseudoaneurysm, arising from the shunt, a frequently fatal complication. Generally, X-ray chest is used for screening in these patients. CT angiography plays a vital role in the diagnosis of both these conditions. Management in pseudoaneurysm should be aggressive, as timely intervention may be life saving, while in seroma the management is most often conservative occasionally requiring surgical intervention.