title: [Short-term outcome of extracardiac lateral tunnel using the atrial free wall and autologous pericardium].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several modifications to the original Fontan procedure have been proposed in order to decrease postoperative morbidity. Lateral tunnel and extracardiac total cavo-pulmonary connection are 2 such modifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2005 and December 2005, the extracardiac lateral tunnel procedure was performed in 5 patients. The age at operation ranged from 19 to 59 months (median 24 months) and the weight ranged from 9.2 to 16.1 kg (median 11.4 kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no mortality. The mean operation time was 466 +/-118 minutes. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 198 +/- 61 minutes. The mean durations of intubation, intensive care unit stay, drainage tube use, and hospital stay were 1 +/- 1, 7 +/- 3, 12 +/- 5 and 30 +/- 2 days, respectively. Postoperative catheterization findings demonstrated that the mean superior venous caval pressure, inferior venous caval pressure, ventricular volume and ventricular ejection fraction were 10.0 +/- 1.4 mmHg, 11.0 +/- 2.4 mmHg, 140 +/- 47% of normal and 58.0 +/- 6.8% , respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short-term results of the extracardiac lateral tunnel compared favorably with the results of different types of Fontan operation. In addition this procedure has the potential for growth and anticoagulation therapy is unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Chiba Children's Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agematsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inuzuka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamazawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants