Transplantation in the Fontan patient.
The failing Fontan circulation presents difficult treatment challenges. When Fontan revision and or intervention for treatable arrhythmias is not feasible, heart transplantation is the only therapeutic option. Particular challenges presented by these patients include limited ability to assess hemodynamics, complex anatomy, multiple prior procedures, and unique underlying pathologic states. These issues complicate the decision-making process for further surgical intervention verses transplantation. The pre-transplant evaluation, transplant operation, and post-operative management are more problematic for these patients compared with most patients undergoing transplantation. Consequently, failing Fontan patients constitute one of the highest risk heart transplant subsets.
Instructor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO.
David C
DC
Mauchley
Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital Colorado Heart Institute, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: max.mitchell@childrenscolorado.org.
Max B
MB
Mitchell
D018729:Fontan Procedure; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure