Inspiratory Training in Children After Fontan

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Children After Fontan Surgery.

This study will assess physical and respiratory capacity, diaphragmatic mobility and quality of life. Healthy children and children who have undergone Fontan surgery will participate. Some children in the late postoperative period of Fontan surgery will be randomized to a group of inspiratory muscle training that will last for 2 months. Children after Fontan surgery will be evaluated twice, once at the beginning and again after two months of follow-up.

This study aims to evaluate physical capacity through cardiopulmonary testing, submaximal physical capacity testing by the 6-minute walk test, respiratory capacity by spirometry, respiratory muscle strength by manovacuometry, diaphragmatic mobility by ultrasound, quality of life by the AUQEI questionnaire. There are three groups, a healthy control group, a Fontan control group and a Fontan intervention group. The intervention will be done by respiratory muscle training using the Power Breath device.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 8 to 12 years;
• Both sexes;
• No history of other heart disease;
• No history of lung and musculoskeletal diseases;
• >1 year post-operative Fontan Surgery;
• Clinically stable;
• Absence of serious arrhythmias;
• Medical clearance to participate in the study; The legal guardian has agreed to participate in the research and the child has consented

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal alterations;
• Patients with neurological sequelae;
• Patients with genetic syndromes associated with cognitive or psychiatric disorders;
• History of perioperative arrhythmias;
• Patients with uncontrolled heart failure;
• Recent angina;
• Severe arrhythmia;
• Hemoptysis;
• Pulmonary hypertension;
• Diaphragmatic plication;
• Moderate to severe asthma.