Systemic-to-pulmonary shunt in a patient with isolation of the subclavian artery

A surgical procedure is described that was carried out to treat an 18-month-old boy with tetralogy of Fallot, right aortic arch, and isolation of the left subclavian artery. The patient underwent a descending aorta-right pulmonary artery shunt using a polytetrafluoroethylene graft, as a systemic-pulmonary shunt. The effectiveness of this procedure in patients with some special conditions is discussed.