Blalock–Thomas-Taussig shunt
Shunt de Blalock-Taussig
- Date
- 1944 · confidence high
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Credited to
- Helen B. Taussig, Vivien Thomas y Alfred Blalock
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
A surgical procedure connecting a subclavian or carotid artery to the pulmonary artery to increase blood flow to the lungs in cyanotic congenital heart disease, such as tetralogy of Fallot; developed by surgeon Alfred Blalock from Vivien Thomas's laboratory work and Helen Taussig's clinical proposal.
What it led to
- Founded modern pediatric cardiac surgery
- Paved the way for open-heart surgery techniques
- Saved thousands of "blue babies"