Fontan fenestration decreases central venous pressure and preserves cardiac output while decreasing systemic oxygen saturation. Transcatheter fenestration closure increases oxygen saturation, though the persistence of this increase and the long-term incidence of adverse outcomes such as death and heart transplant remain unknown. We describe immediate and long-term clinical and adverse outcomes following fenestration closure. Catheterization, echocardiogram, and clinic reports were reviewed following transcatheter Fontan fenestration closure. Data were reported as n (%) and median (IQR). Continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon ranked sum test. 51 patients had fenestration closure 0.9 (0.7-1.5) years following extracardiac Fontan operation. Most (84%) were closed with Amplatzer Septal Occluders. Systemic O2 saturation immediately increased from 87 (83-89) to 95 (94-97)%, P < 0.05. Cardiac index decreased from 4 (3-5) to 2.9 (2.6-3.5) L/min/m2. Fontan pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were not significantly changed. Clinical follow-up duration for all patients was 7.3 (range 1.3-16) years. Oxygen saturation at last follow-up was 94.5 (92-97)% and did not decrease over time (P < 0.05). One patient (2%) developed protein losing enteropathy, 1 (2%) had heart transplant, and 1 (2%) patient died 9.4 years following fenestration closure. No patient required fenestration re-creation following closure. Transcatheter Fontan fenestration closure leads to sustained increases in systemic oxygen saturation and a low incidence of adverse outcomes such as death and transplant. Further study comparing fenestration closure to non-closure and longer follow-up duration are required to determine if there is a survival benefit to fenestration closure.
Keywords: Fontan; Outcomes; Transcatheter intervention.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.