Successful one-lung ventilation in a patient with the Fontan circulation undergoing thoracotomy: a case report

The incidence of noncardiac surgery in patients with the Fontan circulation has increased over the years due to the elongated life expectancy of these patients. In patients with the Fontan circulation, pulmonary blood flow is passive, so it is important to keep pulmonary vascular resistance low. One-lung ventilation (OLV) can have adverse effects on the Fontan circulation due to hypoxia, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, hypercarbia, and increased airway pressure. We present a case of successful OLV in a patient with the Fontan circulation and describe our perioperative management.