Blalock-Taussig Shunt

So I had a Blalock-Taussig Shunt so I'm going to explain this procedure a bit. All the definitions and information are from CACHnets term dictionnary. http://www.cachnet.org/achd_index.html

Blalock Taussig Shunt:
A palliative operation for the purpose of increasing pulmonary blood flow, hence systemic oxygen saturation. It involves creating an anastomosis between a subclavian artery and the ipsilateral pulmonary artery either directly with an end-to-side anastomosis (classical) or using an interposition tube graft (modified).

Palliative operation:
A procedure carried out for the purpose of relieving symptoms or ameliorating some of the adverse effects of an anomaly, which does not address the fundamental anatomic/physiologic disturbance. Contrasts with "repair" or "reparative operation".

Anastomosis:
An anastomosis is a surgical connection between two structures. It usually means a connection that is created between tubular structures, such as blood vessels or loops of intestine.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002231.htm

Subclavian Artery:
The right subclavian artery extends from the brachiocephalic artery to the right side of the body. The left subclavian artery extends from the aortic arch to the left side of the body.
http://biology.about.com/library/organs/heart/blsubclavianartery.htm

Brachiocephalic Artery:
The brachiocephalic artery extends from the aortic arch to the head. It branches off into the right common cartoid artery and the right subclavian artery.
http://biology.about.com/library/organs/heart/blbrachioartery.htm

Ipsilateral :
On the same side.
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4041

So now you know!
From my heart to yours,
Colleen