Project description:Fontan patients may undergo additional surgical modifications to mitigate complications like protein-losing enteropathy, liver cirrhosis, and other issues in their splanchnic circulation. Recent case reports show promise for several types of modifications, but the subtle effects of these surgeries on the circulation are not well understood. In this paper, we employ mathematical modeling of blood flow to systematically quantify the impact of these surgical changes on extracardiac Fontan hemodynamics. We investigate two modifications: (1) the fenestrated Fontan and (2) the Fontan with hepatic vein exclusion. Closed-loop hemodynamic models are used, which consist of one-dimensional networks for the major vessels and zero-dimensional models for the heart and organ beds. Numerical results suggest the hepatic vein exclusion has the greatest overall impact on the hemodynamics, followed by the largest sized fenestration. In particular, the hepatic vein exclusion drastically lowers portal venous pressure while the fenestration decreases pulmonary artery pressure. Both modifications increase flow to the intestines, a finding consistent with their utility in clinical practice for combating complications in the splanchnic circulation.
Project description:Failing Fontan physiology in univentricular hearts manifest with protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, low cardiac output, and recurrent effusions. Transcatheter creation of fenestration in a failing Fontan may be useful in alleviating the symptoms by improving the cardiac output. It is traditionally achieved by puncturing through the conduit from femoral or jugular venous access. In the absence of good venous path, transhepatic access provides a direct route for needle puncture of the conduit. If marked intimal ingrowth into the conduit results in increasing rigidity and makes the conduit nonyielding, alternative approaches may be needed. A successful creation of pulmonary artery to atrial roof communication through the potential space of transverse sinus using a covered stent is presented.
Project description:BackgroundMeta-analysis of the impact on clinical outcome from transcatheter closure of Fontan fenestration.MethodsCochrane, Embase, MEDLINE, and Open-Gray were searched. Parameters such as changes in oxygen saturation, cavo-pulmonary pressure, maximum heart rate during exercise, exercise duration, and oxygen saturation after fenestration closure were pooled and statistical analysis performed.ResultsAmong 922 publications, 12 retrospective observational studies were included. The included studies involved 610 patients, of which 552 patients (90.5%) had a fenestration. Of those patients, 505 patients (91.5%) underwent attempt at trans-catheter closure. When it could be estimated, the pooled overall mean age at trans-catheter fenestration closure was 6.6 ± 7.4 years, and the mean follow-up time was 34.4 ± 10.7 months. There were 32 minor (6.3%) and 20 major (4.0%) complications during or after trans-catheter Fontan fenestration closure. The forest plots demonstrate that following fenestration closure, there was a significant increase in the mean arterial oxygen saturation of 7.9% (95% CI 6.4-9.4%, p < 0.01). There was also a significant increase in the mean cavo-pulmonary pressure of 1.4 mmHg (95% CI 1.0-1.8 mmHg, p < 0.01) following fenestration closure. The exercise parameters reported in 3 studies also favored closing the fenestration as well, yet the exercise duration increase of 1.7 min (95% CI 0.7-2.8 min, p < 0.01) after fenestration closure is probably clinically insignificant.ConclusionLate closure of a Fontan fenestration has the impact of improving resting oxygen saturation, exercise oxygen saturation, and a modest improvement of exercise duration. These clinical benefits, however, may be at the expense of tolerating slightly higher cavo-pulmonary mean pressures.
Project description:BackgroundFenestration discectomy, for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation, is the most common surgical procedure in spine surgery. It can be done by open or microscopic procedures. This study compared the results of fenestration microdiscectomy with open fenestration discectomy in the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation as a relation to the functional outcome, leg pain, back pain, hospital stay, returns to daily activity, cost, recurrence, reoperation and type of surgery for recurrent disc herniation.Methods60 patients age (29 - 50 years), with L4-L5 disc herniation, are divided randomly into group A- 30 patients underwent an open fenestration discectomy- and group B- 30 patients underwent fenestration microdiscectomy. All patients are assessed at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after surgery for Oswestry disability index and Visual analogue scale for back pain and leg pain and followed up for 4 years.ResultsIn both groups, all patients have minimal disability by Oswestry Disability Index after surgery. There were significant differences between means of post-operative Visual Analogue Scale for back pain between these two groups after 1 week (3.7 in group A versus 2.2 in group B) (t = 13.28, P = < 0.001*) and after 3 months (1.73 in group A versus 0.43 in group B) (t = 10.54, P = < 0.001*). There were no significant differences between two groups regarding post-operative VAS for leg pain, recurrence (5 patients in group A versus 4 patients in group B) and reoperation rate (2 patients in each group). There were significant differences between means of length of hospital stay (2.10 in group A versus 1.06 in group B) (P < 0.001), time of returning to daily activities (7.33 in group A versus 4.03 in group B) (P < 0.001) and cost of surgery (1996.66 in group A versus 3003.3 in group B) (P < 0.001).ConclusionUse of microscope in fenestration discectomy for treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation can achieve the same goals of open fenestration regarding nerve root decompression and relief of leg pain with advantage of less back pain, less hospital staying and early return to daily activities with disadvantage of more cost with the use of microscope. With 4 years follow up, there was no significant deference in rate of recurrence and reoperation with the use of microscope but we found that type of surgery for recurrent cases may be less invasive if microscope was used in primary surgery.Trial registrationNCT, NCT04112485. Registered 30 September 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/NCT04112485.
Project description:Dr. O.P. Yadava, CEO & Chief Cardiac Surgeon, National Heart Institute, New Delhi, India, and Editor-in-Chief, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, in conversation with Prof. Richard Jonas, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon from Washington DC, USA, on Failing Fontan.
Project description:PurposeTo quantify shoulder motion during Codman pendulum exercises.MethodsShoulder kinematics were analyzed in 17 healthy volunteers using a validated biomechanical model coupling patient-specific imaging and motion capture. Participants were instructed to perform medio-lateral, antero-posterior and circular pendulum exercises. Glenohumeral (GH), scapulothoracic (ST), thoracohumeral (TH) ROM and overall exercise amplitude were calculated for each sequence. Linear regression analyses were carried out to determine association between different components of shoulder motion.ResultsMean overall exercise amplitude was 40.59±11.24° (range, 25.38 to 70.25°) for medio-lateral exercises, 46.5±22.02° (range, 20.68 to 100.24°) for antero-posterior exercises, and 20.28±7.13° (range, 10.9 to 35.49°) for circular exercises. Mean GH and ST involvement remained minimal, ranging from 6.74 to 13.81°, and 1.5° to 5.12°, respectively. There was no significant correlation between overall exercise amplitude and GH (R = 0.31, p = 0.01) or ST ROM (adjusted R2 = 0.57, p < 0.001), but a moderate correlation with TH ROM (R = 0.73, p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that Codman pendulum exercises depend mainly on truncal movement and produce very little movement in the GH and ST joints. Although they may be a safe way to promote early general stretching of the upper limb, they may be of limited further use in restoring passive shoulder ROM.Clinical relevanceThis study quantifies motion during frequently administered shoulder rehabilitation exercises and shows that they do not produce significant movement in the shoulder. Their use in restoring passive range of motion is thus questionable.
Project description:Patients with Fontan circulation insidiously develop congestive hepatopathy related to chronically reduced cardiac output and central venous hypertension, also known as Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD). Fontan pathway obstruction is increasingly detected and may accelerate FALD. The impact of conduit stent angioplasty on FALD is unknown. Retrospective, single-center review of patients with Fontan circulation who underwent conduit stent angioplasty at cardiac catheterization over 5-year period. Demographics and cardiac histories were reviewed. Labs, liver ultrasound elastography, echocardiogram, hemodynamic and angiographic data at catheterization were recorded pre- and post-stent angioplasty. Primary outcome was change in hepatic function via MELD-XI scores and liver stiffness (kPa), with secondary outcomes of ventricular function, BNP, and repeat catheterization hemodynamics. 33 patients underwent Fontan conduit stent angioplasty, 19.3 ± 7.0 years from Fontan operation. Original conduit diameter was 19.1 ± 1.9 mm. Prior to angioplasty, conduit size was reduced to a cross-sectional area 132 (91, 173) mm2 and increased to 314 (255, 363) mm2 post-stent. Subjects' baseline median MELD-XI of 11 (9, 12) increased to 12 (9, 13) at 19 ± 15.5 months post-angioplasty (n = 22, p = 0.053). There was no significant change in liver stiffness at 12.1 ± 8.9 months post-angioplasty (n = 15, p = 0.13). Median total bilirubin significantly increased (1.4 [0.9, 1.8]), from baseline 1.1 [0.7, 1.5], p = 0.04), as did median BNP (41 [0, 148] from baseline 34 [15, 79]; p = 0.02). There were no significant changes in ventricular function or repeat invasive hemodynamics (n = 8 subjects). Mid-term follow-up of Fontan subjects post-conduit stent angioplasty did not show improvements in non-invasive markers of FALD.
Project description:Background Hypocholesterolemia is a marker of liver disease, and patients with a Fontan circulation may have hypocholesterolemia secondary to Fontan-associated liver disease or inflammation. We investigated circulating lipids in adults with a Fontan circulation and assessed the associations with clinical characteristics and adverse events. Methods and Results We enrolled 164 outpatients with a Fontan circulation, aged ≥18 years, in the Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease Biobank and compared them with 81 healthy controls. The outcome was a combined outcome of nonelective cardiovascular hospitalization or death. Participants with a Fontan (median age, 30.3 [interquartile range, 22.8-34.3 years], 42% women) had lower total cholesterol (149.0±30.1 mg/dL versus 190.8±41.4 mg/dL, P<0.0001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (82.5±25.4 mg/dL versus 102.0±34.7 mg/dL, P<0.0001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (42.8±12.2 mg/dL versus 64.1±16.9 mg/dL, P<0.0001) than controls. In those with a Fontan, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was inversely correlated with body mass index (r=-0.30, P<0.0001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r=-0.27, P=0.0006), and alanine aminotransferase (r=-0.18, P=0.02) but not with other liver disease markers. Lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was independently associated with greater hazard for the combined outcome adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and functional class (hazard ratio [HR] per decrease of 10 mg/dL, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04-1.81 [P=0.03]). This relationship was attenuated when log high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was added to the model (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.95-1.67 [P=0.10]). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were not associated with the combined outcome. Conclusions The Fontan circulation is associated with decreased cholesterol levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with adverse outcomes. This association may be driven by inflammation. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between the severity of Fontan-associated liver disease and lipid metabolism.