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Intraperitoneal corticosteroids for recurrent ascites in patients with Fontan circulation: Initial clinical experience
Author(s) -
Wu Fred M.,
Valente Anne M.,
Nigrovic Peter A.,
Rutherford Anna E.,
Singh Michael N.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/jocs.15244
Subject(s) - medicine , ascites , fontan procedure , cardiology , surgery , heart disease
Individuals with single‐ventricle congenital heart disease who are palliated to a Fontan circulation are at risk for heart failure and liver disease, with recurrent ascites being a potentially debilitating cause of late morbidity. Although ascites associated with heart failure or liver failure is usually characterized by a high serum‐ascites albumin gradient (SAAG), we have observed multiple instances of ascites in Fontan patients with low SAAG, suggesting an inflammatory process. We present three cases in which recalcitrant ascites severely and adversely impacted the quality of life and describe our initial experience with intraperitoneal corticosteroids in this setting.