Journal of JCIC

Left-sided cardiac catheter-intervention risks thrombotic cerebral infarction. We report a case of balloon angioplasty with an embolic protection device being used to address an obstructed modified Blalock-Taussig (B-T) shunt. A 4-month-old boy diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia (Ib) underwent a right-side modified B-T shunt aged 1 month, and a left-side modified B-T shunt aged 3 months. At 24 postoperative days after the left-side modified B-T shunt, contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed complete obstruction of the right-side modified B-T shunt. Balloon angioplasty for the obstructed shunt was safely and successfully performed using an embolic protection device to prevent thrombotic cerebral infarction. Embolic protection devices are useful tools to prevent thrombus-related complications as well as pediatric catheter-intervention at risk of thrombosis.