Taussig-Snellen-Albers Syndrome

Taussig-Snellen-Albers syndrome (TSA) is a rare congenital disorder that affects the development of the cardiovascular system. It is named after three doctors who made significant contributions to the study of this condition: Helen Taussig, Abraham Albers and Arthur Snellen.

Helen Taussig was an American cardiologist born in 1898. She was the first female cardiologist in the United States and is considered the founder of pediatric cardiology. In 1944, she described the first TSA case in the literature. She noticed that children with this condition have an abnormal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, resulting in insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

Abraham Albers and Arthur Snellen also made important discoveries in studying the TSA. Albers was an American physician born in the early 20th century. He studied congenital heart defects and published a paper in 1948 describing TSA as a distinct disease.

Arthur Snellen was an American physician who lived in the 20th century. He made important discoveries in the fields of pediatrics and cardiology, including the description of another heart defect named after him, Snellen syndrome.

TSA is a rare condition that occurs in less than 1% of newborns. It occurs due to an abnormal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, resulting in insufficient oxygenation of the blood. Most children with TSA have breathing problems and cyanosis, which appears as blueness of the skin and mucous membranes.

Various techniques are used to diagnose TSA, including echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and computed tomography. Treatment for TSA may include surgery to correct the abnormality, which improves blood oxygenation and reduces symptoms.

In conclusion, TSA is a rare congenital disorder that affects cardiovascular development. It is named after three doctors who made significant contributions to the study of this condition: Helen Taussig, Abraham Albers and Arthur Snellen. Early diagnosis and treatment of TSA are key factors in improving the prognosis for children with this condition.



Taussig-Snellen-Albers syndrome is a rare congenital disease of the cardiovascular system, characterized by congenital heart disease in the form of pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defect.

This disease is named after three American doctors who made significant contributions to the study of this syndrome:

  1. Helen Brooke Taussig (1898-1986) - American cardiologist, described the clinical manifestations of this syndrome.

  2. Adrian Snellen (1888–1966) – American physician, performed cardiac catheterization and described hemodynamic abnormalities.

  3. Farrell Albers (1906-2005) - American physician, proposed surgical treatment for this defect in 1944.

The main clinical manifestations of Taussig-Snellen-Albers syndrome are cyanosis (blueness of the skin), shortness of breath, and retardation in physical development. Diagnosis is based on data from auscultation, ECG, ECHO-CG and cardiac catheterization. Treatment is surgical and consists of eliminating the ventricular septal defect and pulmonary artery stenosis. With timely diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is favorable.