Acquired pulmonary atresia following placement of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in tetralogy of Fallot.

A 6-month-old infant developed pulmonary atresia following placement of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for tetralogy of Fallot with absent left pulmonary artery. This condition was diagnosed by failure of opacification of the pulmonary trunk and the right pulmonary artery following an injection of contrast in the right ventricle. At surgery the pulmonary valve was shown to be patent and free of calcifications. Acquired pulmonary atresia may complicate the clinical course of young children following the construction of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.