title: 12th Annual C. Walton Lillehei Memorial Lecture in Cardiovascular Surgery: Fontan conversion--the Chicago experience.
abstract: Between 1994 and 2011, we performed 133 Fontan conversions with arrhythmia surgery. Most patients had tricuspid atresia or double-inlet left ventricle with prior atriopulmonary connection. Operative mortality was 1.5%, and mean length of stay was 14 days. A total of eight patients (6%) have had late cardiac transplantation. Freedom from arrhythmia recurrence is 85% at 10 years. For properly selected patients with a functionally univentricular heart who have had an atriopulmonary Fontan procedure, Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery significantly improves quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Children's Memorial Hospital, 2300 Children’s Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA. cbacker@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Carl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Backer
mesh_terms: D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans