Factors influencing the intermediate outcome in patients with single-ventricle physiology after Fontan operation

This study was conducted to analyze the factors affecting the intermediate outcome following the Fontan procedure in the current era.

Between January 1992 and December 2008, 189 patients underwent Fontan procedure at a median age of 3.4 years (0.4-37 years). Single left ventricle was present in 77 (40%) patients, right ventricle in 70 (37%), in 7 (3.7%) patients, the ventricular morphology was indetermined and in 35 (18.5%) a dominant systemic ventricle with smaller second ventricle was present. The Fontan procedure was performed using an atriopulmonary connection (n=5, 5.6%), lateral atrial tunnel (n=99, 52%) or extracardiac conduit (n=85, 45%). 97.4% of patients recieved fenestration.

The hospital survival was 95% and five patients required a takedown of Fontan circulation. The survival at 1.5 and 10 years was 94%, 93% and 92%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that the outcome was influenced by the diagnosis of a complete common AV canal (p = 0.015), duration of ventilation (p < 0.0001) and duration of pleural effusions (p = 0.003). Failure-free survival at 1.5 and 10 years was 95%, 92% and 89%, respectively. The overall freedom from reoperation was 73%. Risk factors for reoperation were preoperative pulmonary artery pressure and duration of ventilation.

The Fontan procedure is associated with excellent operative and intermediate survival. Common atrioventricular canal, duration of pleural effusions and ventilation have an adverse influence on the intermediate outcome. Reintervention is associated with pulmonary artery pressure and duration of ventilation (Tab. 7, Fig. 3, Ref. 16).