Anesthetic care during modified fontan procedure without cardiopulmonary bypass

The purpose of this study was to report the anesthetic care of patients during performance of a Fontan procedure without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Retrospective chart review.

Operating room of a university hospital.

Seven pediatric-patients undergoing inferior vena cava (IVC)-to-pulmonary artery (PA) anastomosis for completion of the Fontan procedure.

Charts were reviewed for anesthetic technique, hemodynamic and ventilatory changes occurring during the procedure, and anesthetic interventions that were provided.

The off-bypass Fontan procedure was attempted in 7 patients (age: 26 months-7 years, weight: 13 to 28 kg). Exposure of the PA was not feasible in 1 patient because of a markedly enlarged right atrium. In the remaining 6 patients, before cross-clamping of the PA to allow for the proximal anastomosis between the PA and the conduit, alkalosis (pH > or =7.5) was maintained by the administration of sodium bicarbonate. After PA cross-clamping, fluid administration was necessary in 5 patients and dopamine (3-7 microg/kg/min) was necessary in 4 patients. The minute ventilation was increased by 18 +/- 7% to maintain baseline PaCO2 values. Before the placement of the PA cross-clamp, the end-tidal PaCO2 difference was 7 +/- 4 mmHg and the transcutaneous (TC)-PaCO2 difference was 3 +/- 2 mmHg. The end-tidal PaCO2 difference increased to 14 +/- 6 mmHg during cross-clamping of the PA, whereas no change was noted in the TC-PaCO2 difference. Once the proximal anastomosis was completed, a bridge was placed to redirect blood from the IVC to the right atrium while the IVC was clamped and attached to the distal end of the conduit. After placement of the distal end of the bridge into the IVC, fluid administration to maintain the blood pressure was necessary in 3 patients. In 1 patient, 20 minutes after placement of the bridge, the authors noted a progressive increase in the central venous pressure reading measured from the left femoral vein and the need for the administration of volume to maintain the mean arterial pressure. Examination of the bridge revealed occlusion with thrombus despite an activated coagulation time value of 250 to 300 seconds. The tracheas of 3 of the 6 patients were extubated in the operating room, whereas the other 3 were extubated in the pediatric intensive care unit within 4 hours of completion of the procedure. The 1 patient who required the use of CPB required reintubation and had a protracted intensive care unit course. The other 6 patients were discharged home on postoperative days 7 to 12.

With alteration of the anesthetic technique, the Fontan procedure can be performed in selected patients without the need for CPB.