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Hearts late after fontan operation have normal mass, normal volume, and reduced systolic function: a magnetic
Andreas Eicken1, Sohrab Fratz, Christine Gutfried
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, Deutsches Herzzentrum, Technische Universität, München, Germany. eicken@dhm.mhn.de
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to assess ventricular mass, volume, and systolic function in patients late after Fontan operation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Background:
An assessment of determinants for ventricular function in post-Fontan patients was intended.
Methods:
Twenty-three unselected patients (9 female, 14 male) at a median age of 19.4 years (range, 7.8 to 31.3 years), at a median time of 10.5 years (range, 4.1 to 18 years) after Fontan operation were studied. A standard 1.5-T scanner was used, and analysis was performed using dedicated software. Ten healthy volunteers (median age 26.4, range 18 to 39.3 years) served as the control group.
Results:
Median end-systolic mass index was 72.2 g/m(2) (range, 43 to 138 g/m(2)) and 86.6 g/m(2) (range, 52 to 123 g/m(2)) in the control group (p = NS). Median end-diastolic ventricular volume was 64 ml/m(2) (range, 32 to 117 ml/m(2)) compared with 67.7 ml/m(2) (range, 59 to 75 ml/m(2)) in the control group (p = NS). Median ejection fraction was 49.3% (range, 20% to 63%) compared with 64.8% (range, 57% to 79%) in normals (p = 0.00001).
Conclusions:
We conclude that long-term survivors of a Fontan operation have normal ventricular mass, normal volume, but reduced systolic ventricular function.