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

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.308-311
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• 2005

The status of pulmonary circulation is regarded with utmost importance for the successful Fontan operation. The absence of unilateral pulmonary artery leads to decreased pulmonary vascular bed and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance which are the risk factors for Fontan operation. A 9-year-8-month-old female patient diagnosed as tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia with absent left pulmonary artery flow, received extracardiac conduit Fontan operation using 18 mm Gore-Tex graft. She was discharged on twenty sixth postoperative day with arterial $O_2$ saturation of $70\%$ on room air. On last follow up at 14 months after the operation, she was clinically well with $O_2$ saturation of $91\%$.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.406-411
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• 1992

Thirty-four patients were received bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt[BCPS] from Aug. 1989 to Apr. 1991 at Sejong General Hospital, Puchon, Korea. Their ages were from 43 days to 21 years old with 19 cases of infant, 10 from 1 to 5 years old and 5 cases above 6 years old. Their diagnoses were as follows: 13 cases with uni-ventricular heart, 9 tricuspid atresia, 6 double outlet of right ventricle, 4 pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, and 2 transposition of great arteries with pulmonary stenosis. Among them, 10 patients had received other palliative operations before. The BCPS operations were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass and 10 patients who had bilateral superior vena cava received bilateral BCPS. Other associated procedures were 9 cases of takedown of Blalock-Taussig shunt, 3 pulmonary artery angioplasty, 1 unifocalization, 1 repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return, 1 Damus procedure, 1 relief of sub-aortic stenosis, 1 right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and one case of tricuspid valve obliteration. There were 3 operative deaths[8.8%] and two late deaths. The remainders show good postoperative state and their oxygen saturation was increased significantly. Conclusively, the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt is very effective and safe palliative or pre-Fontan stage operation for the many complex congenital anomalies with low pulmonary blood flow especially for the patients who have the risk of Fontan repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.342-348
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• 1983

The Fontan principle of redirecting systemic venous blood into the pulmonary arteries via a conduit was initially proposed for Tricuspid Atresia, but it and its modifications have now gained a much wider application than initially intended. From September 1978 to July 1983, Atriopulmonary anastomosis has been performed in 23 patients, 2 months to 19 years of age, Seoul National University Hospital. The diagnoses were Tricuspid Atresia [TA] in 13, Univentricular Heart [UVH] in 9 and one case of Double Outlet of Right Ventricle [DORV]. Previous procedures included two Glenn shunts and one Blalock-Taussl8 shunt. Among these 23 patients, 10 patients had Right Atrial to Pulmonary Artery conduit, with a valve in 7 and without in 3. The remaining 13 patients had direct anastomosis between RA to PA. There were 14 early deaths, 7 of 13 TA patients, 6 of 9 UVH patients and one DORV, and the total hospital mortality was 60%. But there were no later deaths, 9 of these 23 patients survived operation and are presently alive. The Fontan procedure can be done with an acceptable low mortality with good functional results for Tricuspid Atresia and other complex lesion in foreign hospital, but till now our results revealed much higher risks. For our good operative results and effective patients selection, we must clarify the exact condition of pulmonary arterial system and accumulate much more experiences and technique.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1987

From Sep. 1978 to Aug. 1986, 44 cases of Fontan operation were performed at Seoul National University Hospital. 1] The diagnoses were TA in 13 [38.6%], UVH in 21 [47.79`], DORV in 3 [6.8%], TGA in 2 [4.5%] and C-ECD with DORY in 1[2.3%]. 2] There were 20 operative deaths [44.5%]. 3] The operative risk factors were early date of operation between 1978 and 1983, young age below 3 years old, direct atriopulmonary anastomosis without roofing, and postoperative high CVP above 25cmH,O. But the relation between operative mortality and various cardiac diseases was absent. 4] survived patients were followed from 1 to 54 months except 3 patients who were lost to follow up. 16 patients were in functional class I and 1 in class II, 2 of the above 17 patients were reoperated due to residual right to left shunt. In remained 4 patients, 3 patients persisted cyanosis after operation and 1 patients died 1 month postoperatively due to pulmonary embolism. 5] As 4 result, the Fontan procedure can be done with a good result for tricuspid atresia and other complex lesions. The operative mortality can be reduced further with a correct anatomical diagnosis preoperatively, rigid operative criteria to pulmonary vascular resistance, direct atriopulmonary anastomosis with roofing, and use of `Venous Assist Device` postoperatively in low cardiac output patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.281-288
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• 2006

Background: Extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation has theoretical advantage of growth potentiality of the extracardiac tunnels. The mid-term results of this technique and morphologic change of the lateral tunnel were studied. Material and Method: Clinical data was reviewed in 42 patients who underwent extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation between November 1993 and December 2004. The age was $2.8{\pm}1.5$ years and the body weight was $12.3{\pm}3.2$ kg. Extracardiac tunnel was constructed using the pedicled pericardium with the base undetached. By reviewing the follow-up cardiac angiograms, the diameter and the cross-sectional area of the lateral tunnel was compared to those of inferior vena cava. Result: There were four operative mortality cases (9.8%) and the causes of death were low cardiac output for all four cases. Postoperatively, five patients had prolonged pleural effusion longer than two weeks and one patient required a permanent pacemaker due to complete heart block. Follow-up was possible in 37 patients and the follow up duration was $3.8{\pm}2.2$ years. During that period, one patient died, of upper gastrointestional bleeding combined with heart failure and one patient died a sudden death of unknown cause. Two patients required reoperation due to subaortic stenosis and anastomosis site stenosis between inferior vena cava and lateral tunnel. In one patient, bradyarrhythmia was anew but there was no thromboembolic complication. The lateral tunnel showed growth in proportion to the size of the inferior vena cava. Conclusion: Extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation is relatively simple and safe. The mid-term result was favorable and the extracardiac tunnel showed potential for growth.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.177-181
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• 2002

Background: Follow-up studies have shown that although outcomes have improved substantially over time, results of the Fontan operation and its modifications remain suboptimal. In this study, we reviewed our experience with the extracardiac conduit Fontan operation, with a focus early and midterm change of internal diameter of PTFE conduit. Material and Method: Between April 1997 and July 2000 were reviewed. Twelve patients (M:6, F:6, mean age 42.04 $\pm$ 12.43months, mean body weight 13.80$\pm$ 1.94kg) underwent extracardiac conduit Fontan operation with expanded PTFE graft. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 109.7$\pm$26.99minute and mean operation time was 455$\pm$89.51minute. Intraoperative fenestration was performed in 10 patients. The aortic cross clamping was not performed in all patients. Result: There was no early deaths and no postoperative dysrhythmia. Postoperative protein losing enteropathy and prolonged pleural effusion occurred in 1(8.3%) and 4 patients(33.3%). Conduit patency was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging studies. A 9.84$\pm$3.84% mean reduction in conduit internal diameter and there was no statistical correlation between the change of internal diameter of conduit and the postoperative duration after partial correlation analysis(r=0.019, p=0.955). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the extracardiac conduit Fontan operation provies good early and midterm results and may reduce the prevalence of late arrhythmia. And there is no correlation between the change of internal diameter of conduit and the postoperative duration after extracardiac conduit Fontan operation with the expanded PTFE graft conduit.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.80-91
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• 1997

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2014

A 13-year-old girl, who had undergone the total correction of partial atrioventricular septal defect at the age of 4 years, was admitted with severe tricuspid regurgitation in echocardiography. She had received one-and-a-half ventricle repair during follow-up. Her right ventricle showed global akinesia, and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle was 25% with paradoxical interventricular septal motion. We performed right ventricular exclusion adjunct to the Fontan procedure. She is doing well two years after the operation without complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.781-783
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• 2001

In a patient with single ventricle associated with complex systemic and/or pulmonary venous drainage, intraatrial Fontan procedure is sometimes technically difficult due to the complex spatial relationship between their orifices in the atrium. We report a case of the modified extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure in a patient with a single ventricle in which the inferior vena cava and the hepatic vein drained separately into the atrium and the intraatrial orifice of the hepatic vein was abut to the orifice of the left lower pulmonary vein.