Pre-Fontan Cardiac Catheterization Data as a Predictor of Prolonged Hospital Stay and Post-Discharge Adverse Outcomes Following the Fontan Procedure: A Single-Center Study

Despite improved outcomes following modifications to the Fontan technique, significant morbidity and mortality persist. We sought to determine if abnormal pre-Fontan catheterization hemodynamic data will predict postoperative prolonged hospital stay (PHLOS) and adverse post-discharge outcomes. This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent the Fontan procedure at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans from 2008 to 2018. PHLOS was defined as ≥ 14 and ≥ 21 days to discharge post Fontan. We defined post-discharge adverse outcomes as thromboembolic phenomena requiring anticoagulation therapy, protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, transplantation, persistent chylous effusion requiring fenestration creation, or death. Statistical analysis was performed using student t test, Chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression analysis using IBM SPSS version 22. Ninety-seven patients underwent extracardiac Fontan. Forty-one patients (42.3%) experienced hospitalization ≥ 14 days, 31 patients (32%) experienced hospitalization ≥ 21 days, and 14 patients (14.4%) experienced adverse post-discharge outcome. Elevated end-diastolic pressure (EDP) ≥ 10 mmHg (p = 0.005, OR 4.2, CI 1.5–11.4) was independently associated with ≥ 14 days of hospitalization, while a CI < 4 L/minute/meters² combined with one abnormal catheterization variable was associated with PHLOS and post-discharge adverse outcomes (p = 0.03, OR 2.8, CI 1.1–7.3 and p = 0.043, OR 6.42, OR 1.1–38.9, respectively). The absence of fenestration was also associated with post-discharge adverse outcomes (p = 0.007, OR 5.8, CI1.6–20.7). Elevated EDP may be associated with PHLOS, while CI < 4 L/minute/meters² combined with abnormal catheterization hemodynamics may be associated with PHLOS and adverse post-discharge outcomes, while absence of fenestration may be associated with post-discharge adverse events.