From January 1990 to November 1994, 72 patients with congenital heart defects and low pulmonary flow underwent modified Blalock-Taussig produce. There were 44 (61.1%) males and 28 (38.8%) females with ages ranging from 2 days to 11 years (average 9 months). Thirty eight (52,8%) patients had Tetralogy of Fallot; 7 (9,7%) had pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS); 6 (8.4%), had transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with pulmonary stenosis (PS); 6 (8,4%) had tricuspid atresia (TA) with PS; 6 (8.4%) had double inlet of right ventricle (RV) or left ventricle (LV) and PS; 3 (4.2%) had corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) with ventricular septal defects (VSD) and PS; 2 (2.7%) had double outlet of RV or LV and PS; 2 (2.7%) had atrio-ventricular canal defects (A-VC) and PS; 2 (2.7%) patients had right or left Isomerism and PS. The decision to surgical indication was based on: a) new borns with "ductus dependent" heart defects; b) lactents with important cianosis or hypoxia; c) infants with heart defects without possibilities of biventricular correction. The surgical technique employed was the Blalock-Taussig operation using 4 or 5 mm Polytetrafluoroethy (PTFE) prosthesis in 69 (94.5%) cases, umbilical vein in 3 (4.1%) cases and bovine thoracic artery in 1 (1.4%) case. Before the arteries were clamped 1 mg/kg of héparine was given without mobilization, with protamine, after the procedure. During the post-operative period, anticoagulants were not given. The prosthesis obstruction was the main cause of death and was related to artery anatomy: subclavian and pulmonary artery diameter and/or problems with the technique. The modified Blalock-Taussig operation showed itself to be a reliable palliative treatment to heart defects with low pulmonary flow
Blalock-Taussig operation; Heart defects; Heart defects; Heart defects; Heart defects; Heart defects