title: The adult with a fontan: a panacea without a cure? Review of long-term complications.
abstract: The univentricular heart includes a spectrum of complex cardiac defects that are managed by staged palliative surgical procedures, ultimately resulting in a Fontan procedure. Since 1971, when it was first developed, the procedure has undergone several variations. These patients require lifelong management, including a thorough knowledge of their anatomic substrate, hemodynamic status, management of rhythm and ventricular function, together with multi-organ evaluation. As these patients enter middle age, there is increasing awareness of long-term complications and mortality. This review highlights the concept behind the staged surgical palliations, the unique single ventricle physiology and the long-term complications in this complex cohort of patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lastinger
authors.forename: Ali N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016276:Ventricular Function