LUNG PERFUSION PATTERNS AFTER BIDIRECTIONAL CAVOPULMONARY ANASTOMOSIS(HEMI-FONTAN PROCEDURE)

Perfusion lung scans were performed immediately prior to Fontan proced ure in 45 patients with a functional single ventricle who underwent th e hemi-Fontan procedure as an intermediate stage between the initial p alliative shunt procedure and the final complete Fontan anastomosis. S ymmetric pulmonary blood flow (PBF) distribution was found in 27% of p atients, whereas moderately to severely abnormal PBF distribution was found in 35% of patients. The achieved systemic aortic saturation foll owing the hemi-Fontan procedure was not affected by these abnormalitie s.