Dictionary: Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt

Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt: A Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt is a small, soft tube that lets blood in the body be redirected.

Heart surgeons use BTT shunts to connect the subclavian artery (a smaller artery that comes off of the aorta) to the pulmonary artery. This helps increase blood flow to the lungs.