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(Circulation. 1995;92:304-308.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Loss of Sinus Rhythm After Total Cavopulmonary Connection

Presented in part at the 67th Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, Dallas, Tex, November 14-17, 1994, and published in abstract form (Circulation. 1994;90[pt 2]:I-421).

Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, MD; Winston E. Gaum, MD; Craig J. Byrum, MD; Frank C. Smith, MD; Daniel A. Kveselis, MD

From the State University of New York-Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY.

Correspondence to Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, MD, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, SUNY-Health Science Center, 725 Irving Ave, Room 804, Syracuse, NY 13210.

Background Total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) to repair functional single ventricle involves the sinus node area, in contrast to the Fontan procedure. We compared ECG findings after TCPC and Fontan to evaluate the impact of the cavopulmonary connection on sinus rhythm postoperatively.

Methods and Results The Fontan group consisted of 17 patients repaired at 7.8±3.1 years of age (mean±SD): 11 for tricuspid or pulmonary atresia (TA/PA) and 6 for single ventricle. The TCPC group consisted of 19 patients repaired at 5.1±3.2 years of age (mean±SD) (P<.001): 9 for TA/PA, 4 for single ventricle, and 6 for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Mean follow-up after Fontan was 7.7±2.7 years versus 2.8±1.6 years for TCPC (P<.001). Preoperative ECGs on all TCPC patients showed sinus rhythm (SR), whereas 16 of 17 Fontan patients had SR and one had nonsinus atrial rhythm (NSAR) since birth. On the first postdischarge ECG, 12 of 19 TCPC patients (63%) were in SR, 4 were in junctional rhythm (JR), and 3 were in NSAR. In comparison, 15 of 17 Fontan patients (88%) were in SR with 1 of 17 in NSAR and 1 in supraventricular tachycardia (P<.05 with ² test). By 2 years postoperatively, only 6 of 15 TCPC patients available for follow-up (40%) were in SR, with 7 of 15 in JR and 2 of 15 in NSAR. By contrast, 13 of 17 Fontan patients (76%) remained in SR, with 1 in NSAR and 3 in JR (P<.05 with ² test). TCPC patients with loss of SR did not differ from other patients in the group in age at repair, preoperative diagnosis, or surgeon performing the procedure.

Conclusions This significant incidence of loss of SR temporally related to surgery suggests that operative compromise of the sinus node area is common with TCPC.

Key Words: Fontan procedure • electrocardiography • surgery • sinoatrial node

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