Five- to fifteen-year follow-up after Fontan operation.

Abstract

To assure good functional long-term outcome in addition to survival, clinicians must exclude from selection for Fontan operation patients known to be at high risk for death or poor outcome.

Exercise capacity and impact of exercise training in patients after a Fontan procedure: A review

“…Cardiac arrhythmias are frequent following the Fontan procedure, particularly at the supraventricular level (13). Stretching of the right atrium, decreased ventricular function and atrioventricular valve insufficiency have all been associated with cardiac arrhythmias (13).…”

“…Stretching of the right atrium, decreased ventricular function and atrioventricular valve insufficiency have all been associated with cardiac arrhythmias (13). In fact, 20% of these patients need an antiarrhythmic agent and/or a pacemaker after a mean follow-up of five years (13).…”

“…Stretching of the right atrium, decreased ventricular function and atrioventricular valve insufficiency have all been associated with cardiac arrhythmias (13). In fact, 20% of these patients need an antiarrhythmic agent and/or a pacemaker after a mean follow-up of five years (13). Among 59 patients, Durongpisitkul et al (39) reported that 10 patients presented premature ventricular contractions, one patient had ventricular tachycardia, one patient had atrial fibrillation and eight patients had nonspecific ST-T wave changes.…”

“…However, these patients may benefit from exercise training, as is documented in other patients with congenital heart diseases (12). This benefit of improved exercise performance is of importance because life expectancy of patients following the Fontan procedure has increased significantly -70% at five years and 60% at 10 years (13).…”

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Single-Ventricle Patients Palliated with Fontan Procedure: Future Consideration

“…Multiple modifications of the original procedure were applied to improve morbidities and mortalities. Numerous investigators studied the short-and long-term outcomes of the procedure [5,7]. The 32nd Bethesda conference in 2001 discussed the issue of caring of these patients going into adolescent and adulthood [1].…”