Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery Shunt: Alternative Palliation in Infants With Inadequate Pulmonary Blood Flow Prior to Two-Ventricle Repair

The RV-PA shunt provides successful palliation in infants with biventricular heart disease and inadequate pulmonary blood flow. It can be used in low birth weight infants and allows significant growth with protection of oxygen saturation prior to complete repair. Partial clipping of the shunt with subsequent balloon dilation is an option to prolong palliation. These results compare favorably with those of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or single stage complete repair.