Surgical experience with the modified Fontan procedure

Abstract

During a 10 year period 109 patients (3 months to 47 years old) underwent modifications of the Fontan procedure for repair of classic tricuspid atresia (TA) (n = 58), univentricular atrioventricular connection (UVH) (n = 38), or other complex malformations (CM) (n = 13). Among patients with TA, an atriopulmonary connection was used in 19 (33%) and incorporation of the right ventricle with the Björk modification and with a right atrial-to-right ventricular valved conduit was used in 20 (34%) and in 19 (33%), respectively. Three of the latter 19 also underwent a combined Fontan-switch procedure. The hospital mortality rate was 13.8% (70% confidence limits, 9.3% to 18.3%) for patients with TA, 28.9% (70% confidence limits, 21.3% to 37.0%) for patients with UVH, and 7.7% (70% confidence limits, 0% to 15.4%) for patients with CM. Multivariate analysis identified with the following variables as risk factors for both early and late deaths: diagnosis of UVH, previous pulmonary artery banding (PAB), and postrepair right atrial pressure, and, in patients with TA, the use of a direct atriopulmonary connection (all variables, p less than .05). Morphometric lung biopsy scores were not different in patients with PAB, implicating the role of ventricular hypertrophy rather than pulmonary vascular disease as the mechanism for the adverse effect of PAB. Right atrial pressure was a predictor of serious late cardiac symptoms, which were present in 10% of eligible patients (p = .032). This review demonstrates a survival advantage with modifications of the Fontan procedure that incorporate the hypoplastic right ventricle in patients with TA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)