Tag Archives: Fontan procedure

Introduction Adults living with a Fontan circulation are at persistently elevated potential risk of both thrombosis and bleeding. The Fontan procedure is a palliative surgical strategy for patients with univentricular congenital heart disease, which reroutes systemic venous return directly to the pulmonary arteries.1 This unique physiology leads to a non-pulsatile, low-pressure pulmonary circulation, which contributes to chronic venous congestion, blood stasis and altered flow dynamics. These factors, alongside endothelial dysfunction and potential coagulation abnormalities, create a prothrombotic environment.2 Increased bleeding risk can ari

Introduction A Fontan procedure is a surgical connection between the systemic venous return and the pulmonary artery performed in complex congenital heart disease where there is only one functioning ventricle.1 Most commonly, tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia (with intact ventricular septum), hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and a double inlet ventricle are the congenital heart defects palliated by a Fontan procedure.2 Problems associated with a Fontan procedure include cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular dysfunction, lymphatic dysfunction, protein losing enteropathy, venous thrombosis, plastic bronchitis, liver cirrhosis, and increased risk