Palliative surgeries and their classification:
1- Systemic pulmonary fistula or Blalock-Taussig anastomosis:
It is the placement of a small tube of a synthetic material called Goretex that connects the aorta artery or its first branches with the pulmonary artery.
It is performed when the cardiac pathology includes little or no blood flow to the lung.
With this procedure, it is guaranteed that blood from the aorta (systemic circulation) passes through the Goretex tube to the pulmonary blood bed (pulmonary circulation) and the patient's life can be maintained.
2- Norwood Surgery:
This procedure is performed when the left ventricle and aorta are not functional because they are very small, almost non-existent.
It turns the right ventricle into the only ventricle that will pump blood to the body.
The surgery consists of joining the pulmonary trunk with the small aorta to form a large ascending aorta.
the right ventricle is connected to the aorta:
In this way, the right ventricle is connected to the aorta (enlarged with the patch) through the pulmonary valve.
It is important to leave a great communication between both atria so that the blood that arrives through the pulmonary veins can pass without difficulty to the right atrium and continue on its way to the right ventricle and the reconstructed aorta.
The branches of the pulmonary artery are separated and blood flow is supplied to them with either a systemic pulmonary fistula or a Sano fistula.
This surgery allows the baby to grow until around 6 months, at which time the Glenn surgery should be done.
- Sano tube:
It is another way to provide blood flow to the lung. In this case the Goretex tube connects the ventricle with the pulmonary branches
