Does the off-pump Fontan procedure ameliorate the volume and duration of pleural and peritoneal effusions?
OBJECTIVE
We initiated an off-pump Fontan procedure by using temporary bypass from the inferior vena cava to the atrium and advanced the procedure in selected patients by simply cross-clamping the inferior vena cava. We aimed to investigate whether the off-pump Fontan procedure could ameliorate the volume and duration of pleural and peritoneal effusion.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients (aged <4 years) who underwent Fontan completion between January 2001 and December 2006. The patients were classified into the following two groups: a cardiopulmonary bypass group in which cardiopulmonary bypass was required (n=27) and an off-pump group in which the procedure was completed without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (n=47). A propensity score was used to control the treatment selection bias for the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Fourteen patients from each group were successfully matched. Both bilateral pleural and peritoneal drainage tubes were placed in all the patients. The total volume of the effusion was measured at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72h postoperatively and was corrected for body weight (kg) and intervals (h).


RESULTS
Significantly reduced effusion (ml/kg/h) was noted in the off-pump group compared to the cardiopulmonary bypass group at 12h (cardiopulmonary bypass group, 8.6 [4.8-11.5]; off-pump group, 2.5 [1.2-5.4]; p=0.006) and at 48h (cardiopulmonary bypass group, 6.1 [2.6-9.9]; off-pump group, 1.4 [0.9-3.1]; p=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The off-pump Fontan procedure may reduce the volume of postoperative pleural and peritoneal effusion.
Shikata
Fumiaki
F
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
Yagihara
Toshikatsu
T
Kagisaki
Koji
K
Hagino
Ikuo
I
Shiraishi
Shuichi
S
Kobayashi
Junjiro
J
Kitamura
Soichiro
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003250:Constriction; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult