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[Anesthetic management of an adult patient with Fontan circulation for laparoscopic surgery]
Takashi Fujii1, Soichi Shirakawa, Yasushi Matsuura
1Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai 591-8025.
Insights
Anesthetic management for adults with Fontan circulation undergoing laparoscopic surgery requires careful hemodynamic monitoring. This case study highlights successful management by controlling insufflation pressure and administering milrinone.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Improved treatments for congenital heart disease lead to increased adult survivors.
- Adults with complex congenital heart conditions require non-cardiac surgical interventions.
- Fontan circulation presents unique anesthetic challenges in adult patients.
Observation:
- A 29-year-old female with a history of tricuspid atresia and Fontan circulation underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
- Anesthetic management focused on mitigating hemodynamic instability caused by pneumoperitoneum.
- Low insufflation pressure (8 cmH2O) and intravenous milrinone were employed.
Findings:
- Hemodynamic status remained stable throughout the laparoscopic procedure.
- Adequate oxygenation and ventilation were successfully maintained.
- The patient was extubated in the operating room without complications.
Implications:
- Understanding Fontan physiology is crucial for safe anesthetic care during non-cardiac surgery.
- Careful control of intra-abdominal pressure and systemic/pulmonary vascular resistance is vital.
- This case demonstrates the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in adult Fontan patients with meticulous anesthetic planning.
Abstract:
Advances in the surgical and medical management of children with congenital heart disease have decreased the mortality of these patients. As a result, more patients are surviving into adulthood and are presenting for noncardiac surgery. We experienced a case of anesthetic management of an adult patient with Fontan circulation for laparoscopic surgery. A 29-year-old woman was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder stone. She had undergone single-ventricle procedures for a tricuspid atresia, and at the time of the laparoscopic surgery, her cardiac physiology was Fontan circulation. To reduce the influence of the increased intraabdominal pressure on hemodynamics, the insufflation pressure was maintained at 8 cmH2O during pneumoperitoneum. To reduce systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, milrinon was administered intravenously. Throughout the operation, including the period of pneumoperitoneum, the hemodynamic status remained stable, and adequate oxygenation and ventilation were maintained. The surgery ended uneventfully, and the trachea was extubated in the operating room. In anesthetic management of patients with Fontan circulation for laparoscopic surgery, it is important to understand the physiology of the circulation, and consider the influence of the pneumoperitoneum on the hemodynamics.
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