Perioperative Considerations for the Fontan Patient Requiring Noncardiac Surgery

Abstract

Children and adults with congenital heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery are at higher risk of perioperative adverse events. Patients have significant comorbidities and syndromic associations that increase perioperative risk further. The complexity of congenital heart disease requires a thorough understanding of lesion-specific pathophysiology in order to provide safe care. Comprehensive multidisciplinary planning and the use of skilled and experienced teams achieve the best outcomes. The anesthesiologist is a perioperative physician charged with providing safe anesthesia care, instituting appropriate hemodynamic monitoring, and determining appropriate postoperative disposition on an individual basis.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Fontan; Noncardiac surgery; Pediatric anesthesiology; Pediatrics; Risk assessment.