Anesthetic considerations in Ebstein's anomaly

Abstract

Introduction: Ebstein's anomaly is a rare congenital cardiac malformation, defined by an apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, instead of at the level of the atrioventricular ring, which leads to an increase of the volume of the right atrium (mega atrium) at the expense of a size reduction for the ventricle on the same side (auriculization of the ventricle). It causes a significant tricuspid regurgitation and reduction of the functional capacity of the ventricle, right atrioventricular dilation, with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, which tend to become resistant at times, or difficult to treat. The displacement of the tricuspid valve orifice produces a division of the right ventricle in a portion integrated to the right atrium, which constitutes "the atrialized portion" of the right ventricle, while the apico-trabecular and exit portion constitutes its functional part.
Objective: To present the clinical-anesthesiological evolution of a patient with Ebstein's anomaly.
Clinical case: A 69-year-old patient, with Ebstein's anomaly, who was scheduled for elective surgery on two occasions for different oncological diseases. History of pulmonary thromboembolism, three cardiac surgeries, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, stable atherosclerotic arterial disease, and right middle cerebral infarction. Conditions that increase cardiac work and oxygen consumption were avoided.
Conclusions: The challenge patients suffering from Ebstein's anomaly represent for the anesthesiologist can vary from patient to patient, depending on the physical state, the type of disease, and the monitoring techniques.