Anesthetic considerations for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a child with Glenn shunt for thoracic duct ligation and pleurodesis

Abstract

Glenn shunt is an anastomosis between superior vena cava and right pulmonary artery to palliate patients with single ventricle physiology of the heart. Chylothorax is a frequent and troublesome complication after the creation of this shunt, which if not controlled with medical management, might require pleurodesis, and thoracic duct ligation. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) causes less postoperative pain, earlier mobilization, lower overall morbidity, a shortened hospital stay with reduced cost, and a cosmetic incision. A comprehensive understanding of physiology of Glenn shunt and implications of the proposed surgical procedure (VATS) is necessary to plan the anesthetic agents, cardiovascular drugs, ventilation strategies, and other perioperative factors.

Keywords

• Chylothorax; Glenn shunt; pleurodesis and thoracic duct ligation; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery