ASCENDING AORTA TO RIGHT PULMONARY-ARTERY INTERPOSITION SHUNT IN CRITICALLY ILL INFANTS

In spite of a trend toward earlier complete repair, some neonates and infants with complex cyanotic heart disease continue to require interi m palliation with systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts. A variety of sh unt procedures have been proposed, each with inherent advantages, and disadvantages, We have found a prosthetic interposition shunt between the ascending aorta and right pulmonary artery (AA-RPA) to be effectiv e in very young infants with Small vessels. Over a 15-year period, 51 patients, mean weight 3.33 kg and mean age 59 days, underwent this pro cedure with a 13% perioperative mortality and a 78% 2-year overall shu nt patency rate. We conclude that the AA-RPA interposition shunt is a safe, effective procedure in these infants.