Fontan procedure

Definition: The Fontan procedure is a palliative surgical procedure used in children with complex congenital heart defects. It involves diverting the venous blood from the right atrium to the pulmonary arteries without passing through the morphologic right ventricle. It was initially described in 1971 as a surgical treatment for tricuspid atresia.

Indications

 single effective ventricle

• defects of the heart valves
  • tricuspid atresia
  • pulmonary atresia

 abnormality of the pumping ability of the heart

• hypoplastic left heart syndrome

 complex congenital heart disease where a bi-ventricular repair is impossible or inadvisable

Complications

 hepatic fibrosis