A Sano shunt is a passage that is created between a ventricle in the heart and the pulmonary artery. It is most often used to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition in which only the right ventricle of the heart is completely developed. The Sano shunt is a modified version of the Blalock-Taussig shunt, constructed from GORE-TEX®.

Insertion of a Sano shunt is performed in an attempt to allow a person with a heart defect to have enough oxygenated blood to pump around the body through the use of two chambers instead of the usual four. In congenital heart conditions, underdevelopment of the chambers of the heart often takes place on the left side. Oxygen is passed within the blood from the left side chambers of the heart to the lungs; when not working correctly, the left chambers provide only oxygen depleted blood to the organs of the body.

During the surgery to complete the Sano procedure, a tube — also called a shunt — is inserted between the right ventricle and the right pulmonary artery. Following insertion of the shunt, the pulmonary artery becomes the main chamber for pumping blood around the body. The Sano procedure is typically used as the first stage of a treatment plan for babies and children who are not recipients of a heart transplant, and is required to successfully treat a heart defect of the left chambers. Following the placement of a Sano shunt, the patient may undergo the Glenn procedure, in which the superior vena cava is connected to the right pulmonary artery, and the Fontan Procedure, which directs blood from the inferior vena cava to the lungs.

Heart defects usually occur early in the first trimester of pregnancy, so the underdevelopment of the heart can often be identified early. This allows treatment to begin soon after birth. A baby showing symptoms of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, such as a bluish tint to the skin, can have surgery to insert a Sano shunt almost immediately after birth. Later surgical procedures, such as the Glenn procedure, cannot be performed until the infant reaches two months of age.

The Sano procedure is a modification of the Norwood procedure, originally developed by Dr. William Norwood in 1979. It was developed and first performed by Dr. Shunji Sano. Modifications to the Norwood procedure include the use of GORE-TEX® and larger shunt tubing, about 0.2 inches (5 millimeters). Treatment plans, including the option of using the Sano shunt, are now offered by medical professionals throughout the world.