Total cavopulmonary connections in children with a previous Norwood procedure.
BACKGROUND
Outcomes of the Fontan operation in children initially palliated with the modified Norwood procedure are incompletely defined.


METHODS
From August 1993 to January 2000, 45 patients (mean age 2.6 +/- 1.1 years, weight 12.7 +/- 2.8 kg) who were palliated with staged Norwood procedures (hypoplastic left heart syndrome, n = 32; nonhypoplastic left heart syndrome, n = 13) underwent a modified Fontan operation. Preoperative features included moderate/severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation (n = 5, 11%), reduced ventricular function on echocardiography in 11 patients, McGoon index 1.56 +/- 0.38, and pulmonary artery distortion in 18 patients (40%).


RESULTS
A lateral tunnel (n = 16) or an extracardiac conduit (n = 29) connection with fenestration in 38 patients (84%) was used. Concomitant procedures included pulmonary artery reconstruction (n = 24, 53%), atrioventricular valve repair (n = 4, 9%) or replacement (n = 1). Before Fontan, 12 patients (27%) had an intervention to address neoaortic obstruction, and 7 patients required balloon dilation/stenting of the left (n = 5) or right pulmonary artery (n = 5). Intraoperatively, left (n = 5) or right pulmonary artery (n = 1) stenting was performed in 5 patients (11%). On follow-up, 8 patients required additional interventional procedures to address left pulmonary artery narrowing (n = 5), or venous (n = 5) or arteriopulmonary collaterals (n = 1). Perioperative mortality was 4.4% (n = 2). There were 2 late deaths at a mean follow-up of 39 +/- 20 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In relatively high-risk patients, midterm results of the Fontan operation for children initially palliated with the Norwood procedure were good. Combined interventional-surgical treatment algorithms can lead to improved outcomes.
Azakie
A
A
Department of Surgery, The Hospital For Sick Children, University of Toronto School of Medicine, Ontario, Canada.
McCrindle
B W
BW
Benson
L N
LN
Van Arsdell
G S
GS
Russell
J L
JL
Coles
J G
JG
Nykanen
D
D
Freedom
R M
RM
Williams
W G
WG
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018729:Fontan Procedure; D018610:Heart Bypass, Right / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate