Early postoperative failure of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: Successful therapy with angioplasty and subsequent implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz stent into the subclavian artery

A newborn with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and transpo sition of the great arteries was palliated with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at 5 days of age. Three days postoperatively arterial oxygen saturati ons dropped significantly, Thrombosis of the shunt was suspected, Angiograp hy revealed stenosis of the proximal subclavian artery related to the creat ion of the shunt. The patient was successfully treated with angioplasty and stent implantation into the stenotic subclavian artery. Follow-up angiogra phy 3 months after stent deployment showed a completely patent subclavian a rtery and unobstructed blood flow across the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt .