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Pediatric Education and Research 13(2 (Special Supplement -I)):p 285-287, July-December 2025. | DOI: 10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.64
Review Article
Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussing as Pioneers of Blue Baby Heart Surgery
Komal Smriti,, Kasumbiwal Ajay H, Dake Mangesh V, Tambe Pranita
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Pediatric Education and Research 13(2 (Special Supplement -I)):p 285-287, July-December 2025. | DOI: 10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.64
How Cite This Article:
Kasumbiwal Ajay H., Dake Mangesh V., Tambe Pranita, et al. Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussing as Pioneers of Blue Baby Heart Surgery. Pediatr. Edu. Res. 2025; 13(2): 285-287Timeline
Received : December 10, 2025
Accepted : December 25, 2025
Published : December 30, 2025
Abstract
Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussig were groundbreaking pioneers in pediatric cardiac surgery whose collaboration transformed the management of congenital heart disease. Taussig’s clinical insight into cyanotic “blue baby” syndrome led her to propose that increasing pulmonary blood flow could improve oxygenation in infants with defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot. Working together with surgeon Alfred Blalock and the crucial experimental expertise of Vivien Thomas, they developed the Blalock-Taussig shunt in 1944 a procedure connecting the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery to enhance oxygen-rich blood flow. This innovation marked the first successful surgical treatment for congenital heart defects, dramatically improving survival, growth, and neurodevelopment in affected children. Their work laid the foundation for modern pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. Despite societal, racial, and professional obstacles, their perseverance, interdisciplinary teamwork, and commitment to child health revolutionized medical practice and continue to inspire future healthcare professionals.
References
- 1. Blalock A., Taussig H.B. The surgical treatment of malformations of the heart in which there is pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary atresia. JAMA. 1945; 128(3): 189–202.
- 2. Taussig H.B. Congenital malformations of the heart. New York: Commonwealth Fund; 1947.
- 3. Cooper D.K.C. The contribution of Vivien Thomas to surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 1989; 47(5): 676–682.
- 4. Glickman L.T. Alfred Blalock: his life and times. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1999; 118(2): 243–253.
- 5. Hoffman J.I.E., Kaplan S. The incidence of congenital heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002; 39(12): 1890–1900.
- 6. Nuland S.B. Doctors: the illustrated history of medical pioneers. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal; 2008
Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study
Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Kasumbiwal Ajay H., Dake Mangesh V., Tambe Pranita, et al. Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussing as Pioneers of Blue Baby Heart Surgery. Pediatr. Edu. Res. 2025; 13(2): 285-287
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| December 10, 2025 | December 25, 2025 | December 30, 2025 |
DOI: 10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.64
Keywords
Blalock-Taussig shuntBlue Baby SyndromeCongenital Heart DiseaseTetralogy of FallotPediatric CardiologyAlfred BlalockHelen TaussigVivien ThomasCyanosisCardiac SurgerySearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | December 10, 2025 |
| Accepted | December 25, 2025 |
| Published | December 30, 2025 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
