Transcatheter interventions in the early postoperative period after the Fontan procedure

To analyze the safety and clinical impact of interventional cardiac catheter procedures in the management of early postoperative problems after completion of an extracardiac Fontan procedure.

The mortality after Fontan procedure has consistently decreased over the last decade. The role of interventional catheterization to address early postoperative problems in this setting has not been studied systematically.

Over a 9.7-year period, 289 patients underwent an extracardiac fenestrated Fontan procedure with two early deaths (0.7%) and takedown in four (1.4%). Twenty-seven patients (9.3%) underwent 32 interventional cardiac catheter procedures at a median interval of 12.2 (1-30) days. The median weight was 14.5 (13.5-25) kg. The case notes and procedure records were reviewed retrospectively.

Fontan pathway obstructions were treated in 11 patients with stent implantation with good results and no complications. Stent fenestration of the Fontan circulation was performed in 16 patients with one episode of transient hemiparesis and one episode of pericardial effusion. Three patients underwent initial balloon dilatation of branch pulmonary arteries or fenestration with little effect and underwent stent treatment 6 (5-9) days later. One patient had device closure of a large atrial fenestration. In one patient, residual anterograde pulmonary blood flow was occluded using a device. There were no deaths and in-hospital course was improved in all.

Interventional cardiac catheter procedures can be performed safely and effectively in the early postoperative period after Fontan completion to address hemodynamic problems. These techniques contribute significantly to achieve a very low mortality and address morbidity after Fontan completion.