• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 1989

Forty-five patients, aged 16 months to 15.5 years mean 69 months, with a wide variety of cardiac malformations underwent the modified Fontan operation between Sep. 1986 to Aug. 1988. Nineteen patients had previously undergone palliative operations mainly modified B-T shunt. Twenty patients had a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 15 mmHg, with nine operative deaths. Thirteen patients had anomalies of systemic venous connection and seven patients had anomalies of pulmonary venous connection. There were eighteen patients under the age 4 years and fifteen of them survived [83.3%]. Eighteen patients had a pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] more than 2.5U/m, and nine died [50%] whereas two of twenty-three with a PVR less than 2.5U/m died[8.6%]. PVR and anomalies of pulmonary venous connection had a significant influence on survival, but age and anomalies of systemic venous connection did not. Amount of pleural effusion drained postoperatively and PVR had positive linear correlation. Pulmonary artery pressure was not an independent predictor of outcome and pulmonary artery pressure alone should not contraindicate a Fontan procedure if PVR is low. In general, the Fontan operation should be done at a younger age less than 4 year to avoid ventricular dysfunction due to long-standing exposure to hypoxia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.422-426
• /
• 1993

We report three cases of children who underwent definitive conversion to the Fontan circulation using a new surgical technique, Extracardiac Epicardial Lateral Tunnel. This new procedure allows the operation to be performed as a totally extracardiac operation [especially in ventricular dysfunction] and allows it to be performed in a very small atrium and in cases with unsuitable pulmonary venous drainage.Our data suggest that this procedure may achieve satisfactory hemodynamics of the total cavopulmonary connection.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1994 no.05
• /
• pp.111-114
• /
• 1994

Three component velocity measurements with a refractive index-matching technique was used to investigate the flow characteristics in the atrio-pulmomnary (AP) Fontan connection under the steady flow condition. A strong swirl was observed in the extra-cardiac conduit and the main pulmonary artery (MPA). Maximum velocity magnitude in the MPA was about 0.8 m/s near the posterior wall at 6 liter/min. Swirling motion of the flow as well as geometric abnormalities of the connection are important factors in energy loss across Fontan connections.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.549-556
• /
• 1985

Since the first report on a successful method of correcting tricuspid atresia by Fontan and Baudet in 1971, several alternative surgical techniques have been described. Bjrk`s modification was performed three patients, 3, 8, and 9 years of age, in our Hanyang University Hospital. The diagnoses were tricuspid atresia type lb, tricuspid atresia type lib and d-TGA with huge VSD and valvular PS. None had previous palliative procedures. The patients were operated on with good results. The CVP after operation was 10-14 mmHg and early extubation was done. Postoperatively, none had peripheral edema or ascites. Postoperatively, all three were acyanotic and had improved physical capacity compared with their preoperative status.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.784-787
• /
• 1995

A 3-year old female who underwent modified Fontan operation for the double outlet right ventricle with hypoplastic left ventricle at the age of 15 month was admitted with hemoptysis, which was developed 4 days prior to visit. Cardiac catheterization revealed that multiple collaterals from descending thoracic aorta supplied the right lung and drained to the right pulmonary artery. Chest magnetic resonance imaging [MRI showed that the right lung was consolidated by the secondary long-term pulmonary congestion. We decided to perform pneumonectomy because the consolidated right lung and the back-flow from the right pulmonary aretry would worsen the present hemodynamic state of patient. Post-operative course was uneventful, and she could be discharged with good general conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2009

Background: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is uniformly fatal if this condition is not properly treated. We reviewed the surgical results of treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and we evaluated the hemodynamics and functional status of these patients after they underwent a Fontan operation. Material and Method: To assess the surgical results, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 6 (M/F=4/2) patients who underwent a staged operation, including a Norwood procedure, a bidirectional Glenn procedure and a Fontan procedure between October 1997 to May 2005. The mean age of the patients was $17.3{\pm}10.8$ days (range: 9~36 days) at the $1^{st}$ staged operation, $8.9{\pm}7.1$ months (4.6~23.3 months) at the $2^{nd}$ staged operation (the Bidirectional Glenn procedure) and $32.4{\pm}9.8$ months at the final staged operation (the Fontan procedure). During the $2^{nd}$ staged operation, one of the patients received tricuspid valve repair due to regurgitation. All the patients underwent an extracardiac Fontan procedure using Gore-Tex conduit (20 mm: 2 patients, 18 mm: 4 patients) and one of them required fenestration. Result: 21 patients underwented a Norwood procedure. There were 7 early deaths and 4 interstage deaths. Bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt was performed in 10 patients and the Fontan procedure was done in 6 (mortality: 1 patient, Flow up loss: 1 patient, Awaiting a Fontan procedure: 2 patients). After the Fontan procedure, there was no complication except for one case of post operative bleedings. All the patients had good ventricular function and 2 had grade I tricuspid regurgitation, as noted on their echocardiography. The average follow up period after the Fontan procedure was $19.6{\pm}14.9$ months (range: 1.5~39.1 month). All the patients had normal sinus rhythm and they were put on aspirin and cardiac medication. During follow up period, all the patients had a good functional status (NYHA functional class I). Conclusion: All the patients who suffered with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and who underwent a Fontan procedure achieved a good hemodynamic and functional status, even though there was a relatively high operative mortality rate after stage I Norwood palliation. Therefore, thise staged operation should be strongly recommended as an important surgical strategy for treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.8
• /
• pp.559-565
• /
• 2003

By improving the flow pattern in Fontan circuit, total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) could result in a better outcome than atriopulmonary connection Fontan operation. For the patients with impaired hemodynamics after atriopulmonary Fontan connection, conversion to TCPC can be expected to bring hemodynamic and functional improvement. We studied the results of the revision of the previous Fontan connection to TCPC in patients with failed Fontan circulation. Material and method: From October1979 to June 2002, eight patients who had failed Fontan circulation, underwent revision of previous Fontan operation to TCPC at Yonsei University Hospital. Intracardiac anomalies of the patients were tricuspid atresia (n=4) and other functional single ventricles (n=4). Mean age at TCPC conversion was 14.0$\pm$7.0 years (range, 4.6~26.2 years) and median interval between initial Fontan operation and TCPC was 7.5 years (range, 2.4~14.3 years). All patients had various degree of symptoms and signs of right heart failure. NYHA functional class was 111 or IV in six patients. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n:f), cyanosis (n=2), intraatrial thrombi (n=2), and protein losing enteropathy (PLE) (n=3) were also combined. The previous Fontan operation was revised to extracardiac conduit placement (n=7) and intraatrial lateral tunnel (n=1). Result: There was no operative death. Major morbidities included deep sternal infection (n=1), prolonged pleural effusion over two weeks (n=1), and temporary junctional lachyarrhythrnia (n=1). Postoperative central venous Pressure was lower than the preoperative value (17.9$\pm$3.5 vs. 14.9$\pm$1.0, p=0.049). Follow-up was complete in all patients and extended to 50,1 months (mean, 30.3$\pm$ 12.8 months). There was no late death. All patients were in NYHA class 1 or 11. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia developed in a patient who underwent conversion to intraatrial lateral tunnel procedure, PLE was recurred in two patients among three patients who had had PLE before the convertsion. There was no newly developed PLE. Conclusion: Hemodynamic and functional improvement could be expected for the patients with Fontan circulatory failure after atriopulmonary connection by revision of their previous circulation to TCPC. The conversion could be performed with low risk of morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1062-1068
• /
• 1997

From August 1989 to January 1996, a total of 105 cases of bidirectional Glean operations have been done as the interim stage for the patien s with some risk of univentricular correction at Sejong General Hospital. From December 1992, we started the conversion to Fontal operations for them, and 42 cases underwent Fontal-stage operation till February 1996. Their diagnoses were univentricular heart in 19(right ventricular type : 14), tricuspid atresia 11, double outlet of right ventricle 9, and others in 3 cases. The median age of bidirectional Glerln-stage operation was 12.5 months(range 2 months to 8 years) and Fontan-stage operation was at 59.6 months of median age(range 1 year 5 months to ,9 year 7 months). The mean waiting interval between the two operations was 33.88 $\pm$ 17.85 months with a range of 10 months to 6 years 3 months. During the waiting periods, 18 patients developed significant systemic-pulmonary collaterals andfor systemic verso-veno collateral channels. There were 5 hospital deaths after operations due to low cardiac output in 4 and sepsis in one. Most of the Fontal-stage operations were done by the late al tunneling with Core-Tex tube graft patch and fenestrated with the size of 2.5 ~6 mm. All the patients were followed-up(7 months to 4 years 2 months, mean 21.97$\pm$10.82 months) and there were 5 late deaths(postoperatively 6 months to 2 years) due to thromboembolism in 1, after heart transplantation 1, plastic bronchitis 1, protein loosing enteropathy 1, and pneumonia in 1. Dividing the patients by the waiting interval of 2 years, the early correction to Fontal group (N=16) showed the better results(hospital mortality 1116, late mortality 1116, significant collateral development 2/16) compared to the other group(N=26) (4/26, 4/26, 16/26). In conclusion, after the bidirectional Glean-stage operation successfully got rid of the previous risk factors, we recommand to do the Fontan-stage operation no later than 2 years of interval.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2012

The Fontan operation is a heart operation used to treat complex congenital heart defects like tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia and single ventricle. A single ventricle is dedicated to pumping oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation and the entire systemic venous return reaches the pulmonary arterial system without the direct influence of a pumping chamber. In the patient with Fontan operation, it is important to achieve adequate pulmonary blood flow and cardiac output in anesthetic management. In this case, a 10-year-old boy (19.6 kg, 114 cm) with cleft palate, cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation, who underwent a Fontan operation when he was 4 years old, was presented for deep sedation. Because he was suffering from eating disorder with cleft palate, the orthodontist and the plastic surgeon planned to insert intraoral orthodontic device before cleft palate repair. But it was impossible to open his mouth for alginate impression procedure. After careful pre-anesthesia evaluation we planned to administer deep sedation with propofol infusion. After Intravenous catheter insertion, we started propofol intravenous infusion with the formula of a loading dose of 1.0 mg/kg followed by an infusion rate of 6.0 mg/kg/hr with syringe pump. His blood pressure was remained around 80/40 mmHg after loss of consciousness, but he could not maintain his airway patent. So we lowered the infusion rate to 3.0 mg/kg/hr, immediately. The oxygen saturation was maintained above 95% with nasal oxygen supply, and blood pressure was maintained around 100-80/60-40 mmHg. After the sedation of 110 minutes with propofol (the infusion rate to 3.0-5.0 mg/kg/hr), he fully regained consciousness, and was discharged without complication after 1 hour observation. In case of post-Fontan patient, intravenous deep sedation with propofol was safe and effective method of behavioral management during dental treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.7
• /
• pp.650-659
• /
• 1998

Between August 1996 and August 1997, 22 patients underwent extracardiac Fontan operations. The basic diagnoses included univentricular heart of the right ventricular type (n=12); univentricular heart of the left ventricular type (n=4); tricuspid atresia (n=4); left isomerism, transposition of great arteries, ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis (n=1); and criss-cross heart with uneven ventricle (n=1). The median age of the 14 men and 8 women was 29 months (range from 21 months to 26 years). Previous procedures included bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (n=15, interval=15.6$\pm$3.4 months), Kawashima operation (n=4, interval=37.5$\pm$20 months), and classic Glenn shunt (n=1, interval=14 years). In 2 patients, extracardiac Fontan operations were done without any previous procedures. A 16- to 22-mm flexible Gore-Tex tube graft (n=18), Hemashield graft (n=3), or, alternatively, a nonvalved aortic allograft (n=1) was cut and anastomosed end-to-end between inferior vena cava and undersurface of pulmonary artery using Gore-Tex or Prolene suture in a running fashion. In risk Fontan patients (n=12), a communication between the extracardiac conduit and the right atrium was constructed. In the most 13 recent patients, the procedures were done without cross-clamping of the aorta and with a beating heart. Operative mortality was 9.1% (n=2). Complications included persistent chest tube drainage for more than 7 days (n=5), chorea (n=2), and low cardiac output (n=1). There were no late deaths. Follow-up echocardiogram (mean: 6 months) demonstrated satisfactory hemodynamic results in the surviving 20 patients. Potential advantages of this technique consist of minimization of surgical manipulation of atrial tissue, reduction or elimination of myocardial ischemia, creationof a uniform and stable inferior vena cava-to-pulmonary artery conduit, and increased flexibility and safety in certain high-risk patients such as those with increased pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary hypertension, and impaired ventricular function. Further investigations during a longer follow-up are needed to confirm the intermediate and long-term results, especially the reduction of late atrial arrhythmias.