Open AccessHandgrip strength afterthe blalock‐taussig shunt: 14 to 34 year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Zahka K. G.,
Manolio T. A.,
Rykiel M. J. F.,
Abel D. L.,
Neill C. A.,
Kidd L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960110907
Subject(s) - medicine , shunt (medical) , tetralogy of fallot , isometric exercise , cardiology , surgery , heart disease
To determine the long‐term functional impact of the Blalock‐Taussig (BT) shunt, we studied handgrip strength in 56 patients (10–28 years) following total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Of the 56, 16 (29%) had a previous right BT shunt, 5 of 56 (9%) had a previous left BT shunt, and the remaining 35 patients either had a Potts shunt or primary total repair. The mean age at the time of right BT was 2.8 ±1.6 (SD) years, left BT 1.7±1.2 years, and total repair for all patients was 7.1 ±2.2 years. Mean age at the time of study was 26±9 years. Right‐and left‐handgrip strength were measured with a Jamar dynamometer, averaging the results of grip position 2,3, and 4 to accomodate variation in hand size. Since absolute values of hand strength were strongly associated with sex (p=0.006) and body surface area (p=0.016), we calculated the ratio of right‐hand to left‐handgrip strength (RL ratio). The RL ratios were: 0.98±0.13 (right BT), 1.21 ±0.11 (left BT), and 1.13±0.16 (no BT): (p=0.004 right BT vs. no BT, p=0.07 left BT vs. no BT, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Thus, although frequently clinically inapparent, handgrip strength tested many years post‐BT shunt is reduced on the side of the shunt.