Pre-operative assessment of ventricular function in patients considered for Fontan procedure

In 1978 Choussat and Fontan established ten criteria, which should be fulfilled to achieve a successful outcome in Fontan operation. Recent data suggest that while some of these ten criteria need not be necessarrily be fulfilled, new criteria should be added. These include 1. good diastolic function, 2. normal or only slightly increased ventricular mass, and 3. absence of systemic outflow obstruction. In addition the morphology of the single ventricle may be important as long-term results in patients with single ventricle of right ventricular morphology may be worse than results in patients with single ventricle of left ventricular morphology. Ventricular size and pump function can be assessed by cardiac catherization, echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging. Estimation of ejection fraction under stress by nuclear angiography may be indicated. Diastolic function can be examined using Doppler echocardiography or nuclear angiography. Myocardial mass may be assessed by echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging. Normal reference values for different parameters of systolic and diastolic function are listed in the enclosed tables. Patients scheduled for a Fontan operation should have an ejection fraction less than 50%. Patients with borderline ejection fraction should be examined by echocardiography to determine the end-systolic wall stress, a parameter of ventricular contraction, which is independent of pre- and afterload. As afterload may decrease after a Fontan operation some patients with reduced ejection fraction but normal end-systolic wall stress may still be suitable candidates for Fontan operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)