COVID-19 and Fontan: bioethical analysis derived from the need for hospital reconversion
Journal
Boletín Médico del Hospital Infantil de México
ISSN
0539-6115
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Gómezchico-Velasco, Rebeca
Salazar-Lizárraga, David
Yáñez-Gutiérrez, Lucelli
Márquez-González, Horacio
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
Abstract
Background: Among congenital heart diseases, those with univentricular physiology are the most severe with the lowest survival. Fontan surgery (FS) is the procedure of choice, as it bypasses the flow from the caval veins to the pulmonary circulation but requires close monitoring for late complications. The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic caused nations to prioritize the availability of human and material health resources to benefit those infected. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical consequences of hospital reconversion due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a univentricular heart clinic for patients with FS from the bioethical perspective. Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in a captive cohort of patients with FS treated in a tertiary hospital with conversion to COVID-19 patient care. The consequences of discontinuation of follow-up were recorded. Qualitative variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and quantitative variables as medians and interquartile ranges (p25-p75). Comparison between the two groups was performed with the χ2 test. ©Boletín Médico del Hospital Infantil de México