|
|
||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 2004;78:1979-1988
© 2004 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
a Departments of Congenital Heart Disease/Pediatric Cardiology, Berlin, Germany
b Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Accepted for publication February 6, 2004.
* Address reprint requests to Dr Nürnberg, Klinikum Links der Weser, Abteilung für Angeborene Herzfehler/Kinderkardiologie, Senator-Wessling-Strasse 1, 28277 Bremen, Germany
jan-hendrik.nuernberg{at}klinikum-bremen-ldw.de
BACKGROUND: Arrhythmias are one of the main causes of postoperative morbidity superseding Fontan operations. Comparative data on the incidence of sinus node dysfunction after the extracardiac Fontan operation (ECFO) and the intraatrial lateral tunnel Fontan operation (LTFO) are very limited and controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ECFO decreases the risk of postoperative arrhythmias compared with LTFO.
METHODS: Seventy-four consecutive patients received either an LTFO (n = 29, 5 recordings in 1992 to 9 recordings in 1997) or an ECFO (n = 45, 11 recordings in 1995 to 5 recordings in 2001). The rhythm was documented preoperatively and postoperatively with standard electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and ECG monitoring. During follow-up all patients had 28 (median 3) standard ECG recordings per year. Additionally 45 patients (65%) had a Holter ECG at least once a year.
RESULTS: Median follow-up post-ECFO was 4.4 years (1.67.2) and post-LTFO it was 7.9 years (5.411.1). There were 5 early deaths (3 LTFO, 2 ECFO) and 1 late death (LTFO) (total mortality 8%). Sinus rhythm persisted in 37 ECFO patients (86%) as compared with 13 LTFO patients (50%) (p < 0.001). The incidence of new onset supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTs) post-ECFO compared with LTFO was lower: 5 patients (11%) versus 11 patients (38%) early postoperatively (p < 0.001) and none versus 7 patients (27%) during follow-up (p < 0.001), respectively. Early postoperatively 10 LTFO patients (34%) and another 3 patients during follow-up required permanent pacemaker implantation due to bradyarrhythmias, but none of the ECFO patients required this.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ECFO decreases the incidence of postoperative new onset arrhythmias during early and midterm follow-up compared with LTFO.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
C. Mavroudis, B. J. Deal, C. L. Backer, R. D. Stewart, W. H. Franklin, S. Tsao, K. M. Ward, and R. A. DeFreitas 111 Fontan Conversions with Arrhythmia Surgery: Surgical Lessons and Outcomes Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2007; 84(5): 1457 - 1466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. J. Kanter The Fontan Right Atrium--In Context Circulation, April 3, 2007; 115(13): 1698 - 1700. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Khairy, N. Poirier, and L.-A. Mercier Univentricular Heart Circulation, February 13, 2007; 115(6): 800 - 812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. B. Meyer, G. Zamora, G. Wernovsky, R. F. Ittenbach, P. R. Gallagher, S. Tabbutt, P. J. Gruber, S. C. Nicolson, J. W. Gaynor, and T. L. Spray Outcomes of the Fontan Procedure Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Aortic Cross-Clamping Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2006; 82(5): 1611 - 1620. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. L.S. Morales, D. J. Dibardino, B. E. Braud, A. L. Fenrich, J. S. Heinle, W. K. Vaughn, E. D. McKenzie, and C. D. Fraser Jr Salvaging the Failing Fontan: Lateral Tunnel Versus Extracardiac Conduit Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2005; 80(4): 1445 - 1452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. P. Graham Jr The Year in Congenital Heart Disease J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 7, 2005; 45(11): 1887 - 1899. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| ANN THORAC SURG | ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN | EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG |
| J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG | ICVTS | ALL CTSNet JOURNALS |