Exercise-induced hypoxia predicts hypobaric hypoxia during flight in patients after Fontan operation

Background Hypobaric hypoxia (HH) during flight might be more detrimental to pulmonary circulation in Fontan patients compared healthy individuals. This study was designed to clarify whether exercise-induced hypoxia could predict HH during flight in Fontan patients. Methods and results Percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) was analyzed during flight in 11 Fontan patients and eight volunteers. SpO2 was measured before taking off (S1), at the...