Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Shunt (BCPS)

The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPSBidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS)) operation connects the upper body venous drainage directly into the right pulmonary artery establishing passive pulmonary blood flow as part of single ventricleSingle ventricle palliation. It is generally completed at 4–8 months of age as the second palliative procedure following the Norwood operation, isolated BTT or RVBorderline right ventricle (RV)-PA shunt, or main pulmonary artery bandingPulmonary artery banding, or first procedure in patients with balanced circulationsBalanced circulation. The BCPS eliminates the parallel circulations and replaces it with an in-series circulation that offloads volume the heart. Passive pulmonary blood flow is dependent on low pulmonary vascular resistance and transthoracic pressure, and driven by respiratory mechanics of spontaneous breathing. This operation usually serves as a prelude to the totalStage 2 palliation cavopulmonary connectionGlenn operation known as the FontanFontan operation.