Systemic right ventricular morphology in the early postoperative course after extracardiac Fontan operation: is there still a need for special care?

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017 Mar 1;51(3):483-489. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezw374.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to compare early postoperative outcome after extracardiac (EC) Fontan operation between patients with right (RV) or left (LV) systemic ventricles.

Methods: In total, 173 consecutive patients (median age 4 years, median weight 14 kg) underwent EC Fontan between 1995 and 2013. Pre- and intraoperative data as well as detailed postoperative haemodynamic variables were compared between patients with LV [ n = 109 (63%)] and RV [ n = 64 (37%)].

Results: : RV patients showed significantly lower mean arterial (median 55 vs 59 mmHg, P = 0.04), higher atrial (median 8 vs 6 mmHg, P = 0.03) and comparable pulmonary pressure (median 14 vs 14 mmHg, P = 0.7) as well as lower mean systemic perfusion pressure (median 39 vs 43 mmHg, P = 0.03) on Day 0 after EC Fontan. They suffered from longer intubation time (median 18 vs 12 h, P = 0.008), higher incidence of ascites (46% vs 28%, P = 0.04) and need for dialysis (21% vs 4%, P = 0.003). Prolonged inotropic support (25% vs 8%, P = 0.02) and pharmacological treatment to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (71% vs 53%, P = 0.002) were more often used in RV patients and they showed more often supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (27% vs 5%, P < 0.001) and a longer intensive care unit-stay (median 4 vs 3 days, P = 0.03). However, early mortality, need for Fontan takedown, use of mechanical circulatory support, pleural effusions and hospital stay were not significantly different between both groups.

Conclusions: Patients with systemic RV demonstrate higher morbidity in the early postoperative course compared with patients with systemic LV anatomy and require intensified postoperative management to avoid postoperative Fontan failure.

Keywords: Extracardiac Fontan; Inotropic support; Systemic right ventricle.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Critical Care / methods
  • Female
  • Fontan Procedure / adverse effects
  • Fontan Procedure / methods*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / pathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / physiopathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery*
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / methods
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cardiotonic Agents