Yes, there are risks with any surgical procedure. During the series of three surgeries used to restore normal circulation in a child with tricuspid atresia, there is a risk that the heart’s upper right chamber (the atrium) will become stretched. If the atrium is stretched, an abnormal heart rhythm may result. Abnormal heart rhythm will interfere with the functioning of the heart and impair its ability to pump enough blood to the body, resulting in fatigue, fainting and possibly heart failure. A second risk is associated with the strategy used to restore circulation - the Fontan procedure. This procedure relies on the child’s heart being able to pump enough blood with just one pumping chamber (the ventricle) instead of two. If the child’s ventricle is not strong enough to capture blood from the lung-bound circulation and divert it to a body-bound circulation path, the child may be at risk of heart failure. Swelling of the body, liver and intestines may be caused by a build-up of fluid in the tissues, indicating that the ventricle may not be strong enough and that heart failure is likely. When the oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood are mixing, there is a risk that clots may form and be sent to the body, possibly resulting in a stroke.
Yes, there are risks with any surgical procedure. During the series
of three surgeries used to restore normal circulation in a child
with tricuspid atresia, there is a risk that the heart’s upper
right chamber (the atrium) will become...
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SCAI answered:Yes, there are risks with any surgical procedure. During the series of three surgeries used to restore normal circulation in a child with tricuspid atresia, there is a risk that the heart’s upper right chamber (the atrium) will become stretched. If the atrium is stretched, an abnormal heart rhythm may result. Abnormal heart rhythm will interfere with the functioning of the heart and impair its ability to pump enough blood to the body, resulting in fatigue, fainting and possibly heart failure. A second risk is associated with the strategy used to restore circulation - the Fontan procedure. This procedure relies on the child’s heart being able to pump enough blood with just one pumping chamber (the ventricle) instead of two. If the child’s ventricle is not strong enough to capture blood from the lung-bound circulation and divert it to a body-bound circulation path, the child may be at risk of heart failure. Swelling of the body, liver and intestines may be caused by a build-up of fluid in the tissues, indicating that the ventricle may not be strong enough and that heart failure is likely. When the oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood are mixing, there is a risk that clots may form and be sent to the body, possibly resulting in a stroke.
