Your Notifications
All done, no notifications

Cost of Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt (BT Shunt) Worldwide

Get a Quote

Affordable World-class Treatment - Accredited Hospitals - Free Treatment Plan in 24 Hrs

5
Days in Hospital
-5
Post-Hospital
90 - 95%
Success Rate
uploads/procedure/images/1772168368_8321b50ca7764e10d33c.png
JCI/ISO 100,000+ Patients 24X7 Coordinator Visa & Travel handled
Your all-in-one medical travel platform for treatment, recovery & care.

Get Your Personalised Treatment Plan in Just 24 Hours.

Share your details to receive a personalised treatment plan, estimated costs, hospital recommendations, and expert guidance, “completely free.”

Required | alphabets and spaces
Required | A valid, working email address
Required | A valid contact
Connect with an Expert

Your information is protected with HIPAA-compliant security standards. We only share your details with hospitals after your consent.

Estimated Treatment Cost
All-inclusive • Hospital + Medications + Recovery Assistance + Dedicated Care Coordinator

International Quality. Affordable Care.
Alvina Hasan
Author

M.Pharm

2 Year of Experience

Last Reviewed - June 2026

Alvina Hasan is a dedicated medical researcher and scientific writer with a strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences. She holds a B.Pharm from Jamia Hamdard University and an M.Pharm in Quality Assurance from DIPSAR University.

With deep medical expertise and a strong interest in healthcare communication, she focuses on transforming complex clinical and scientific information into clear, engaging, and easy-to-understand narratives. She develops insightful healthcare articles and research-driven content designed to support both medical professionals and patients, helping bridge the gap between advanced medical knowledge and practical understanding.

Readers can explore her published research and articles here:

https://carcinogenesis.com/index.php/JOC/article/view/868

https://carcinogenesis.com/index.php/JOC/article/view/870

View More
Dr. Naresh Kumar Goyal
Reviewer

Cardiologist

21 Years of Experience

Last Reviewed - June 2026

Dr. Naresh Kumar Goyal is highly trained as a cardiologist with exposure in virtually all aspects of cardiology. He qualified with an MD in internal medicine in 1999 from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, and served in the Cardiology Department as an honorary resident. From this stage, he also started with training in the temporary pacing of the pacemaker as well as interventional services.
View More

Need Help Choosing the Right Treatment? Talk to a Medical Advisor

Our dedicated Medical Patient Advisors are here to answer your questions, help you compare treatment options, estimate costs, and guide you through every step of your healthcare journey.

15 min
Average response time

Serving Patients Worldwide in Multiple Languages.

The Blalock–Thomas–Taussig (BT) shunt is performed to improve blood flow to the lungs in babies and children with cyanotic congenital heart defects. It increases blood oxygen levels and serves as a temporary, life-saving measure until definitive corrective heart surgery can be performed.

Medical evaluation is required if a child shows signs of bluish skin or lips (cyanosis), breathing difficulty, poor feeding, delayed growth, or has a diagnosed congenital heart defect requiring palliative surgery.

Preparation includes echocardiography, blood tests, imaging studies, and stabilisation of oxygen levels. Parents are counselled, and the child is admitted to a specialised pediatric cardiac unit before surgery.

Under general anaesthesia, a small synthetic graft is placed between a systemic artery and the pulmonary artery to create an alternate pathway for blood to reach the lungs, improving oxygenation.

BT shunt surgery typically takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the child’s condition and the complexity of the heart defect.

  • Shunt blockage
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Abnormal blood flow to the lungs
  • Heart rhythm issues

The BT shunt improves oxygenation, reduces cyanosis, supports growth and development, and stabilises the child until definitive cardiac surgery is feasible.

Most children spend a few days in the ICU, followed by ward care. Recovery involves oxygen support, medications, and regular follow-up to monitor shunt function.

BT shunt surgery has shown high short-term success in improving oxygenation and survival in children with complex congenital heart disease. It serves as a bridge to definitive treatment, with outcomes influenced by timing, underlying condition, and overall health.

Explore Hospitals ( 63 )

Bangkok, Thailand

JCI

Seoul, South Korea

ISO

Delhi, India

5.0 - 1 review · 650+ Beds · 302+ Procedures
JCI NABH

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

JCI

Bangkok, Thailand

JCI

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

JCI MSQH

Ankara, Turkey

JCI

Bangkok, Thailand

JCI GHA

Istanbul, Turkey

5.0 - 1 review · 160+ Beds · 114+ Procedures
JCI

Get Your Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt (BT Shunt)
Plan in 24 hrs.

Our experienced Medical Patient Advisors have supported 100,000+ patients across 120+ countries with personalised treatment plans, hospital recommendations, cost estimates, and travel assistance, all free.

HIPAA-Compliant Data SecurityShared Only with Your Consent

Free Consultation No Obligation Personalized Treatment Plan Response Within 24 Hours

Required | alphabets and spaces
Required | A valid, working email address
Required | A valid contact

Your medical info has is HIPAA-style confidential. We never share with hospitals without your consent.

Process Involved for Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt (BT Shunt)

  • Diagnosis and stabilisation
  • Pre-operative assessment
  • BT shunt implantation
  • Post-operative ICU care
  • Follow-up and planning of definitive surgery
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Pulmonary atresia
  • Tricuspid atresia
  • Single ventricle defects
  • Classical BT Shunt
  • Modified BT Shunt (most commonly performed)
  • Infants and children with cyanotic congenital heart defects and reduced pulmonary blood flow, especially those not immediately suitable for corrective surgery, are eligible for BT shunt surgery.
  • Synthetic vascular grafts
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Echocardiography
  • Oxygen therapy and medication management
  • Improves oxygen levels
  • Reduces cyanosis
  • Enhances growth and development
  • Stabilises the child until definitive repair
  • Improved blood oxygenation, better feeding and activity levels, and overall clinical stabilisation in preparation for future corrective heart surgery.
  • Fill out the inquiry form: Fill out the form to provide us with the relevant information about your condition.
  • Consult with Our Healthcare Expert: One of our qualified specialists will contact you for a consultation
  • Receive a Detailed Treatment Plan: After examining your situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan that includes expert views and cost breakdowns for various choices.
  • Choose your preferred option: Choose the treatment option that suits you the best.
Jenny Wilson
Your Dedicated Medical Patient Advisor
Treatment planning • Hospital coordination • Multilingual support • Response within 15 minutes.
Our Services to Better your Experience

Opinion & Option

We submit the most accurate opinion and options from one or more countries for your review

Consult Privately

Consult with a certified specialist privately on our telemedicine platform even before you decide to travel

Logistics

We handle flights, visas, transfers, and accommodation—so you can focus on your health.

Recovery

Our In-house rehabilitation service packages to better your recovery and treatment outcome

Frequently Asked Questions

Most children require approximately 4–6 weeks to fully recover after BT shunt surgery. During this time, activity is gradually increased as the heart adapts and healing progresses.

In addition to the procedure cost, patients may incur:
  • Pre-treatment tests
  • Medications during recovery
  • Follow-up consultations
  • Hospital stay typically ranges from 5 to 10 days, including ICU monitoring and post-operative care. Longer stays occur if complications arise. Total stay in the country (for international patients) may be 2-4 weeks, including follow-up checks.

    Long-term care includes:
  • Regular cardiology follow-ups
  • Monitoring shunt function via echocardiography
  • Medication management as advised
  • Planning for definitive corrective heart surgery later in childhood
  • Countries like India are often chosen because of:
  • Globally competitive costs compared to Western countries
  • Expert pediatric cardiac surgeons and advanced heart centres
  • Comprehensive ICU and post-operative care
  • Shorter waiting times and efficient medical tourism support services
  • Common pre-surgical assessments include:
  • Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
  • Chest X-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Blood and biochemistry tests
  • Yes. When performed at experienced pediatric cardiac centres, BT shunt surgery is considered safe. Hospitals routinely care for international patients with dedicated care teams, ICU support, and structured follow-up, thereby reducing risk and improving outcomes.

    Success rates for BT shunt surgeries at leading centres are high (often 85–90%), with excellent short-term outcomes and improved oxygenation. Actual rates depend on the child’s condition, age, and overall health.

    Not Sure About Your Treatment Plan? Get a Free Second Opinion

    Have your reports reviewed by independent oncology experts to help you make a confident treatment decision, all online within 48 hours.

    Upload Your Reports
    Free second opinion on your CAR-T plan