title: Relief of an early pulmonary pathway obstruction with stenting after modified Fontan operation in an adult.
abstract: The prognosis of Tricuspid Atresia, a rare congenital heart disease, has been changed by surgery. The criteria for Fontan operation have been well established in the literature and adult patients rarely fulfil these criteria; however, in very selected cases Fontan operation can be performed also in adults. A 33 year old woman with tricuspid atresia and previous palliation with classical right Glenn and with left modified Blalock-Taussing, underwent modified Fontan operation because increasing cyanosis and moderate exercise intolerance. Three weeks after operation the patient was readmitted with severe heart failure because of a tight obstruction at the anastomosis between right atrium and main-left pulmonary artery. The stenosis was treated with balloon and stenting achieving large pathway. Our experience confirms that after a modified Fontan, if cardiac failure occurs, an immediate full investigation have to be done.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Presbitero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carcagnì
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bocciarelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manasse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors