Post-Fontan care based on hemodynamic characteristics, with special reference to the central venous pressure

Changes in the hemodynamics of six patients having received Fontan-like operations were closely observed during the first 48 h after the operation. Catheterization studies and simultaneous angiocardiography were also performed before and after the operation. Hemodynamic derangement was particularly severe during the first 24 h postoperatively as indicated by a low cardiac output of less than 2.01/min/m2, which persisted in spite of very high central venous pressure. Furthermore, the central venous pressure needed to re-establish the circulation soon after the Fontan procedure significantly correlated with the angiocardiographically assessed preoperative size of distal pulmonary arteries. Accordingly, the preoperative evaluation of the distal pulmonary arterial size is very important, that provides a good guide-line for the degree of circulatory volume expansion necessary to elevate the central venous pressure and to sustain the circulation in the early postoperative period.