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A large surgical shunt size is related to stiffer lungs and a large heart is associated with a higher respiratory resistance. During mechanical ventilation of patients with univentricular heart physiology the end-tidal CO2 may be an unreliable substitute for arterial CO2 before the bidirectional cavopulmonary connection. We found a relationship between a decreased pulmonary to systemic shunt ratio and an increased arterial to end-tidal CO2 difference. This may indicate that a reason for the unreliability of end-tidal CO2 is an impaired gas exchange partially due to pulmonary hypoperfusion.

Newborns with univentricular hearts have reduced tidal volumes and reduced compliance of the respiratory system. The lung function abnormalities are associated with the degree of pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary vasculature markings.

The pattern of lung function development is different in the patients with univentricular hearts compared to healthy controls. Lung function measured at birth is predictive of later lung function.

No abstract