Strategies For Treating Tricuspid Atresia

Glenn Operation

The Glenn operation is usually the second procedure performed on an infant affected by tricuspid atresia. The procedure may be performed on the patient when they are anywhere between four and twelve months old. This procedure replaces the first shunt with a different and more effective connection arrangement. During the Glenn procedure, the old shunt is removed, and the large vein that carries oxygen-poor blood from the arms and head to the heart or the superior vena cava is attached to the right pulmonary artery. This connection allows blood to flow from the arms and the head directly into the lungs to pick up oxygen. While this new connection arrangement further improves the infant's overall oxygen level, there is still oxygen-poor blood flowing from the lower body into the left chambers in the heart containing oxygen-rich blood. This mechanism means less oxygen-poor blood is mixing with oxygenated blood overall, but it does not entirely resolve the infant's tricuspid atresia. This procedure does, however, make some of the new connections needed to carry out the final surgical procedure that stops all oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich mixing.

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