Key points of care after Greene or total cavity surgery

  Single ventricle is a congenital heart malformation with only one ventricular cavity that is connected to two atria by two atrioventricular valves, or common atrioventricular valves, and receives blood from both atria at the same time, so it is also called ventricular double inlet. This malformation has a poor natural prognosis and should be operated on as early as possible. Depending on the patient’s condition and surgical indications, a modified Fontan procedure, total vena cava-a-pulmonary artery anastomosis or bidirectional Glenn shunt can be chosen. In recent years, cardiac surgery at home and abroad has adopted bidirectional Glenn surgery for patients with complex congenital heart disease who have right heart insufficiency but still have certain functions, and on this basis, intracardiac malformations have been corrected, and satisfactory clinical results have been achieved, and this method is also known as one and a half ventricular correction.    With the increase in the number of children admitted with complex precordial disease, the number of cases in which bidirectional Glenn surgery is performed has also increased, and good recent clinical results have been achieved. Close postoperative monitoring and careful postoperative care are essential to ensure the success of the procedure and to effectively prevent postoperative complications.  This surgical approach is characterized by the direct flow of venous blood from the upper body to the pulmonary artery system through the superior vena cava to increase pulmonary perfusion, improve oxygenation, relieve cyanosis, and reduce the volume load on the heart. However, because the pulmonary artery system is relatively poorly developed in these patients, the child is placed in a semi-recumbent position with the upper body elevated 30 degrees upon admission to facilitate the return of the superior vena cava. Patient agitation and respiratory confrontation can lead to tachycardia and hypoxemia, and in severe cases cause pulmonary vasospasm and a sharp rise in pulmonary artery pressure, affecting vena cava blood return. Postoperatively, fluid intake is restricted, and blood volume is supplemented mainly with colloid. Closely monitor the urine volume, the average hourly urine volume should not be less than 1 ml/kg. In the case of sufficient volume, if the urine volume decreases, diuretics can be used appropriately.  Parents need to pay attention to the following points: 1. Pay attention to the child’s airway: use an anesthetic mask for infants for chest and back percussion, three fingers into a “tent”-like technique or palm root contact percussion method, the operator percusses and vibrates the chest and back effectively from bottom to top and from outside to inside according to the size and condition of the child; 2. The size of the anastomosis, the size of the pulmonary vascular impedance, the collateral circulation and other factors may affect the patency of the superior vena cava flow and whether the pressure in the superior vena cava rises excessively, which in turn affects the intracranial pressure, so parents must pay attention to neurological monitoring when caring for the child after surgery. Pay attention to the mental status, pupils, bulbar conjunctiva, and muscle tone of the extremities; in infants, observe the fullness of fontanelle and note whether the child is having convulsions. If neurological signs are found, report them to the doctor for treatment. 3. For older children who already know what they are doing, use comforting words to talk to them to eliminate the child’s worry and anxiety and prompt them to cooperate with treatment. Parents can use beautiful and harmonious music to soothe tension, using easy-to-understand children’s songs, light music as background music, to achieve satisfactory results; 4, postoperative anticoagulant drugs: children need to take anticoagulant drugs after surgery, such as oral small doses of enteric aspirin anticoagulation, and maintain 3-6 months, need to pay attention to whether the child is prone to nosebleeds or gum bleeding, once a similar situation occurs, timely If this happens, go to the hospital and adjust the dosage of medication.  The surgery is only the first step in the treatment. Careful and effective parental care is necessary for the child’s recovery, and careful observation and care by parents is the guarantee of a good post-operative recovery. Only in this way can the child benefit from the surgery and recover well afterwards.