Lung function and aerobic capacity in adult patients following modified Fontan procedure

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 85; no. 3; pp. 295 - 299
• Main Authors: Fredriksen, P M, Therrien, J, Veldtman, G, Warsi, M A, Liu, P, Siu, S, Williams, W, Granton, J, Webb, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01.03.2001; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; aerobic capacity; Age groups; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Cohort Studies; Congenital diseases; Congenital Heart Disease; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Exercise; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance; Female; Fontan Procedure; Forced Expiratory Volume; Heart; Heart Defects, Congenital - physiopathology; Heart Defects, Congenital - surgery; Heart Rate; Hospitals; Humans; Linear Models; lung function; Male; Medical sciences; Mortality; Oxygen Consumption; Oxygen saturation; Patients; Physical fitness; Retrospective Studies; Spirometry; Surgery; Ventilation; Vital Capacity; United States > US; Human; Maximum oxygen consumption; Prognosis; Congenital; Cardiovascular disease; Aerobe; Congenital disease; Fontan operation; Lung function; Treatment; Heart disease; Adult; Exercise tolerance test
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heart.85.3.295

OBJECTIVE To examine cardiopulmonary performance in 52 adult patients with a Fontan circulation. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. Values of maximum oxygen uptake (Vo 2max), maximum heart rate (HRmax), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were compared with predictive values for different age groups. Patients were further subdivided into those with a pulmonary artery connection (RA–PA) or right atrium to right ventricle conduit (RA–RV). RESULTS At late follow up (median 10 years, range 1 to 26 years), patients with Fontan circulation had greatly diminished Vo 2max, HRmax, FVC, and FEV1 compared with predicted values. Early age at surgery had a positive impact on aerobic capacity. The FEV1:FVC ratio indicated restrictive lung function. No differences were found with respect to any variable between patients with RA–PA connections and those with RA–RV connections. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a Fontan circulation have greatly diminished values of aerobic capacity and a restrictive pattern of lung function. Patients with an early surgical procedure obtained higher values of Vo 2max. The theoretical benefits of including the right ventricle in a Fontan circulation were not apparent.