Fontan surgery failure: risk factors and experience in a Colombian reference centre.

BACKGROUND: The Fontan procedure is considered one of the most remarkable achievements in paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. Its final anatomical objective is a venous return through the superior and inferior vena cava. The complications inherent to this procedure and subsequent failure are its limitations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and haemodynamic characteristics of patients with Fontan failure and define the risk factors associated with it, with its short- and long-term outcomes during a 21-year observation period. METHODS: This is a retrospective follow-up study in which 15 patients diagnosed with Fontan failure in the single-ventricle programme of a high-complexity hospital in Medellín, Colombia, between 2001 and 2022 were included. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were identified in whom the Fontan procedure was performed, and 17 met the failure criteria. 82.4% were men, with a median age of 4.3 years. Ebstein's anomaly was the most common diagnosis, 29.4%. All patients underwent Fontan with an extracardiac tube following the procedure. According to the type of failure, 58.8% of patients presented protein-losing enteropathy and 17.6% plastic bronchitis. During follow-up, 5.9% of patients died. CONCLUSION: Fontan surgery in our centre is an option for patients with univentricular physiology. The correct selection of the patient is essential to mitigate failure risks.

Embolización de colaterales en niños con cardiopatías congénitas. Experiencia en un centro cardiovascular / Embolization of collateral vessels in children with congenital heart disease. Experience in a cardiovascular center

Objetivo: Proceder a un análisis descriptivo de los pacientes a quienes se les realizaron embolizaciones de colaterales por vía percutánea. Materiales y métodos: Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 27 pacientes entre febrero de 2004 y marzo de 2012. Se hace una descripción de las variables analizadas. Resultados:En el período descrito se efectuó la embolización percutánea de 33 colaterales en 27 pacientes. La edad promedio al momento del procedimiento fue de 53 meses (1-143 meses). Al 68% se les había realizado previamente cirugía de Glenn o de Fontan, al 8% fístula Blalock-Taussig y al 24% otros procedimientos quirúrgicos. En el 76% de los casos el vaso embolizado fue una colateral venovenosa, y en el 24% restante, una colateral aortopulmonar. Los dispositivos mecánicos fueron los más utilizados (coils y plug vascular). El Amplatzer Vascular Plug se usó para embolizar colaterales de mayor tamaño. Se obtuvo la oclusión inmediata en el 92% de los casos. No hubo mortalidad asociada con los procedimientos. Discusión y conclusiones: La embolización de colaterales por vía percutánea es un procedimiento seguro y con alta tasa de eficacia. Los dispositivos utilizados mostraron ser igualmente efectivos.

Objective: To perform a descriptive analysis of patients who underwent percutaneous embolization of collateral vessels. Materials and methods: We reviewed the medical records of 27 patients between February 2004 and March 2012, and made a description of the variables analyzed. Results:In the period described, percutaneous embolization of 33 collateral vessels was performed in 27 patients. The mean age at the time of the procedure was 53 months (1-143 months). 68% had previously undergone Glenn or Fontan surgery, 8% Blalock-Taussig shunt and 24% other surgical procedures. In 76% of cases the vessel embolized was a venovenous collateral and in the remaining 24% an aortopulmonary collateral. Mechanical devices were most commonly used (coils and vascular plug). The Amplatzer Vascular Plug was used to embolize larger collateral vessels. Immediate occlusion was obtained in 92% of cases. There was no mortality associated with the procedures. Discussion and conclusions: Percutaneous embolization is a safe procedure with high success rate. The devices used were shown to be equally effective.