Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Fontan Palliation
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Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Fontan Palliation Puprose: Congenital heart disease is the leading known cause for stroke in childhood. The Fontan operation is performed as the third palliative procedure in patients who have complex single ventricle physiology. Patients undergoing Fontan Palliation are at risk for 3 types of strokes: watershed, embolic, or hemorrhagic. Stroke following Fontan Palliation can result in significant deterioration of functional ability. The incidence of this complication seemed higher at Cook Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) as compared to a previous study done at Children’s Hospital in Boston (2.6%). Therefore, the aim of our study is to identify variables contributing to the development of stroke and the risk factors associated with it. The hypothesis is that there are identifiable and potentially modifiable intra-operative and post-operative risk factors that are present in Fontan patients who have radiographic and clinical evidence of stroke. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 149 pediatric patients who underwent Fontan Palliation at CCMC between 2007 and 2017. Exclusion factors were any patient undergoing revision of prior Fontan or death within 72 hours of the operation. Covariates included AV valve regurgitation, ventricular function, SVC pressure (pre and post op), and intraoperative change in hematocrit. A Fisher’s exact test was used and p Results: Overall 11% post-Fontan patients had a stroke, all of which were watershed infarcts. Stroke was statistically significantly associated with pre- and post-operative AV valve regurgitation, and depressed ventricular function. Cardiac bypass time, mean arterial pressure, SVC pressure (pre- and post-operative) and intraoperative changes in hematocrit were not significantly associated with stroke. Though the relationship wasn’t significant, all stroke patients had a vasoactive infusion score greater than 5. Conclusion: Pre-Fontan physiology is the single most important factor when determining the risk of developing a watershed infarct with Fontan procedure. AV valve regurgitation and depressed pre-operative single ventricular function are potentially the most significant risk factors for perioperative stroke. This information may be helpful in counseling families about potential post-operative complications.