Objectives: The immediate extubation technique in patients undergoing a Fontan operation is commonly used to reduce the negative effects of positive-pressure ventilation on pulmonary blood flow and provide a hemodynamic advantage. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the perioperative characteristics of patients undergoing a Fontan operation and the success of fast track extubation.
Methods: Perioperative data from patients from all age groups undergoing a Fontan operation were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with their extubation time.
Results: A table extubation was performed on 72.7% of patients undergoing a Fontan operation. Age, presence of fenestration, conduit localization, heterotaxy, cross and bypass durations, and success of ultra-fast track extubation have no significant correlation.
Conclusion: Ultra-fast track extubation strategy facilitated the hemodynamic adaptation of patients to the Fontan circulation. However, the Fontan population has little variation in early extubation characteristics.