The Blalock-Taussig procedure creates a shunt between the pulmonary artery and a specific branch of the aorta called the left subclavian artery (which supplies oxygen-rich blood to the arm). Other shunt operations involve other branches of the aorta, or the aorta itself. These shunt operations include:

• Potts shunt, in which a connection is formed between the lower aorta and the left branch of the pulmonary artery.
  
  
• Waterston-Cooley shunt, in which a connection is formed between the back of the aorta and the right branch of the pulmonary artery.
  
  
• Davidson shunt (also called a central shunt or modified Blalock Taussig shunt) in which an artificial tube helps to form a shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.