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Fontan circulation has improved life expectancy for infants born with complex heart disease over the last 50 years but has also resulted in significant morbidity
Author(s) -
Hedlund Eva,
Lundell Bo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.16023
Subject(s) - medicine , fontan procedure , life expectancy , heart disease , circulation (fluid dynamics) , hypoplastic left heart syndrome , psychosocial , pediatrics , disease , intensive care medicine , cardiology , population , environmental health , physics , psychiatry , thermodynamics
The prognosis for infants born with complex heart disease improved dramatically with the introduction of the Fontan circulation 50 years ago. With today's carefully designed and staged operations to a Fontan circulation, life expectancy has increased and most children will survive into adult life. The Fontan circulation entails an unphysiological circulation with high risk for multiple organ system dysfunction. Neurodevelopmental disabilities with adverse psychosocial effects are prevalent. The Fontan circulation may eventually fail and necessitate heart transplantation. Conclusion Fifty years development of the Fontan circulation to today's staged surgical procedures has improved survival but also revealed the burden of a high morbidity for a growing number of patients.