title: Influence of age (body size) on the Fontan circulation--analysis by a theoretical model.
abstract: Among the original selection criteria for the Fontan operation, the recommended age at the time of surgery has been 4 years or older, but recent clinical data have indicated the feasibility of this procedure in younger patients. Because age may influence the properties of the systemic vascular bed, changes in systemic vascular resistance (Rs) and systemic vascular compliance (Cs) associated with physical development were quantified in 86 pediatric patients without known abnormalities of the systemic circulation, and the effects of age (body size) on Fontan circulation were then analyzed using an analytical model of the cardiovascular system. As the body surface area (BSA) of the patient decreased, Cs also decreased significantly (r=0.81, p<0.001). Based upon this relationship between BSA and Cs, the analytical model showed that the impedance (ventricular afterload) of the Fontan circulation significantly increased as Cs decreased with the decrease in BSA. Moreover, the increase in impedance in response to changes in heart rate or Rs was inversely proportional to the BSA. However, these findings were significant only when the BSA was below 0.3 m2. Small BSA, or a lower age, has minimal effects on the Fontan circulation until it comes close to the infant value, and thus the Fontan procedure may be feasible much earlier than formerly recommended when the hemodynamics are otherwise acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology, Saitama Heart Institutes, Saitama Medical School Hospital, Iruma-Gun, Japan. hsenzaki@saitama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senzaki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokote
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishizawa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001775:Blood Circulation; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004548:Elasticity; D018729:Fontan Procedure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014655:Vascular Resistance