title: Neuropsychological Status and Structural Brain Imaging in Adolescents With Single Ventricle Who Underwent the Fontan Procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have described the neuropsychological outcomes and frequency of structural brain or genetic abnormalities in adolescents with single ventricle who underwent the Fontan procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a cross-sectional, single-center study, we enrolled 156 subjects with single ventricle, mean age 14.5±2.9 years, who had undergone the Fontan procedure. Scores in the entire cohort on a standard battery of neuropsychological tests were compared with those of normative populations or to those of a group of 111 locally recruited healthy adolescents. They also underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and were evaluated by a clinical geneticist. Genetic abnormalities were definite in 16 subjects (10%) and possible in 49 subjects (31%). Mean Full-Scale IQ was 91.6±16.8, mean Reading Composite score was 91.9±17.2, and mean Mathematics Composite score was 92.0±22.9, each significantly lower than the population means of 100±15. Mean scores on other neuropsychological tests were similarly lower than population norms. In multivariable models, risk factors for worse neuropsychological outcomes were longer total support and circulatory arrest duration at first operation, presence of a genetic abnormality, more operations and operative complications, more catheterization complications, and seizure history. The frequency of any abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging was 11 times higher among Fontan adolescents than referents (66% versus 6%); 19 (13%) patients had evidence of a stroke, previously undiagnosed in 7 patients (40%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neuropsychological deficits and high frequencies of structural brain abnormalities in adolescents who underwent the Fontan procedure highlight the need for research on interventions to improve the long-term outcomes in this high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., C.G.W., M.J.R.) Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., M.J.R., D.R.D.M.) Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (D.C.B., M.J.R.) Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (D.C.B., D.R.D.M.).
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bellinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., C.G.W., M.J.R.) Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA (C.G.W.).
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., C.G.W., M.J.R.) Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (M.J.R., R.L.R.) Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., M.J.R., D.R.D.M.) Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (D.C.B., M.J.R.).
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rivkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (M.J.R., R.L.R.) Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (R.L.R.).
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.) Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (A.E.R., D.W., J.W.N.).
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.).
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stopp
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.).
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunbar-Masterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.).
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (D.C.B., M.J.R., D.R.D.M.) Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (D.C.B., D.R.D.M.).
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: DeMaso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.) Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (A.E.R., D.W., J.W.N.) Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA (D.W.).
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wypij
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (A.E.R., C.S., C.D.M., D.B., D.W., J.W.N.) Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (A.E.R., D.W., J.W.N.).
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newburger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fontan procedure; congenital heart defects; genetics; magnetic resonance imaging