The systemic-pulmonary shunts are an important procedure to treat and prepare, for the final correction, cyanotic patients with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries. All of them have advantages and disadvantages, and the results will depend on the age and weight of the patients and the complexity of their heart disease. The present study reports seven internal mammary-pulmonary anastomosis, made through right (2) or left (5) thoracotomies, in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic pulmonary arteries, from 2 to 63 months of age (m = 18,4) and mean weight of 7.9 kg. There were two deaths (1st and 2nd days), due to thrombosis of the internal mammary, where it was clamped. Two patients went to total correction (1 month and 3 years later). In the first case, the shunt was made due to the general conditions of the child, despite the good size of the pulmonary arteries. In the second case (a 15 months old boy, in whom a classical Blalock-Taussig shunt was made and thrombosed in the 3rd month of life) was possible to follow the progressive enlargement of the pulmonary arteries. In both the shunts were well functioning and the total correction was successful. Three patients are waiting for their best time for final procedures. Despite the small number and the short period of observations, the authors do believe that the internal mammary-pulmonary artery anastomisis is palliative option for these patients. The best results are obtained among the eldest children that are not in an emergency situation and not involving small pulmonary arteries.
internal mammary artery-pulmonary artery anastomosis