BACKGROUNDThe fenestration function is by allowing a right-to-left shunt resulting in an increased cardiac index, associated with mild arterial oxygen desaturation. Subsequent transcatheter fenestration closure can be performed after haemodynamic assessment. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of extracardiac connection (EC) with or without fenestration.

METHODSNinety-five consecutive patients diagnosed with univentricular heart disease underwent EC using Gore-Tax conduits at the Department of Children's Heart Center, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen Germany from June 1996 to July 2007. According to EC with or without fenestration, the patients were assigned to two groups (group A with fenestration and group B without fenestration). Mortality, effusions, postoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure, postoperative oxygen saturation, postoperative thrombosis, postoperative neurological problems, and the postoperative loss of sinus rhythm were compared. In group A, 23 patients had fenestration closed interventionally after a mean time of 20-22 months.

RESULTSMortality and postoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure in group B (3 and (15.1 +/- 3.4) mmHg, respectively) were significantly higher than group A (0 and (13.2 +/- 2.8) mmHg, respectively). Postoperative oxygen saturation, postoperative thrombosis, postoperative neurological problems, and the postoperative loss of sinus rhythm did not differ between cohorts.

CONCLUSIONSFenestrating an extracardiac tunnel seems to improve acute postoperative mortality by rising cardiac output. The induced right-to-left shunt shows no morbidity postoperatively. If a stabilized chronic hemodynamic situation is achieved, an interventional closure of the fenestration can be performed to advance the arterial saturation and improve the exercise tolerance of the patients.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fontan Procedure ; adverse effects ; methods ; mortality ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the postoperative outcomes of patients with the diagnostic univentricular heart undergoing lateral tunnel (LT) operation with extracardiac conduit (EC) operation.

METHODSFrom June 1996 to July 2007, 114 consecutive patients with a single ventricle underwent total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in Children's Heart Center, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Germany. A LT was performed in 19 (16.7%) patients, and an EC in 95 (83.3%) patients. The mean age of EC group was 50.8 +/- 31.6 (ranging from 22 to 212) months, and that of LT group was 61.5 +/- 41.2 (ranging from 30 to 168) months. Early and midterm outcomes of two groups were analyzed.

RESULTSOne died in LT group (5.3%) and three in EC group (3.2%). The overall mortality was 3.5%. There was no significant difference in mortality between EC and LT groups (P>0.05). The postoperative pulmonary arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, and effusion time of two groups had no significant difference (all P>0.05). No significant difference in the occurrences of complications (arrhythmias, enteropathy, and thrombosis) was found between two groups after operation (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere seems no difference between LT and EC in the clinical results in the early and middle postoperative stage. Glenn anastomosis followed by an EC seems to have some advantages.

Child ; Heart Bypass, Right ; methods ; Heart Ventricles ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome