ANASTOMOSIS OF THE AORTA TO A PULMONARY ARTERY

Abstract

In 1945 Blalock and Taussig¹introduced a new surgical procedure for the relief of anoxemia due to pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary atresia. By anastomosing the subclavian or innominate artery to either the right or the left pulmonary artery they have been able to increase the flow of blood to the lungs. Their work is an outstanding contribution to the relief of children whose outlook without aid is hopeless. Sacrifice of the subclavian artery for the anastomosis of its: proximal end to the side of a pulmonary artery is associated with little danger to the circulation of the arm. Use of the innominate artery for such an anastomosis entails the hazard of an inadequate supply of blood to the brain. The possibility of making a direct anastomosis between the aorta and the adjoining pulmonary artery was reviewed. Gross and Hufnagel²and Blalock and Park³concluded from their experimental work