Blalock-Taussig Shunt

The Blalock-Taussig shunt is a surgical procedure to relieve or prevent heart defects which are common causes of blue baby syndrome (persistent truncus arteriosus, transposition of the great vessels, tricuspid atresia, tetralogy of Fallot, etc.). The procedure is primarily used to direct blood flow to the lungs and relieve the appearance of blue or purple skin coloration due to low oxygen levels in skin tissue. During a Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure, one branch of the subclavian artery or the carotid artery is separated and connected to the pulmonary artery. As a result, the lungs receive more oxygen-rich blood from the body.