Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Wireless Telemetry Device Implantation in a Fontan Ovine Model for Continuous and Long-Term Hemodynamic Monitoring
06:29

Wireless Telemetry Device Implantation in a Fontan Ovine Model for Continuous and Long-Term Hemodynamic Monitoring

Published on: May 2, 2025

Fontan operation and the single ventricle

Jamil A AboulHosn1, David M Shavelle, Yelba Castellon

  • 1Ahmanson-UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. JAboulhosn@mednet.ucla.edu

Congenital Heart Disease
|April 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The Fontan operation has evolved significantly since 1971. This case study reviews 40 years of interventions for single ventricle patients, highlighting the Fontan procedure and cardiac CT angiography for complex circulation evaluation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • The Fontan operation, first described in 1971, is a palliative surgical procedure for complex single-ventricle congenital heart defects.
  • Over four decades, the Fontan operation has undergone numerous modifications and improvements to enhance patient outcomes.

Observation:

  • This study details the comprehensive medical, surgical, and percutaneous interventions for a single ventricle patient over 40 years.
  • The evolution of the Fontan procedure, including its indications, sequelae, and complications, is traced through this patient's case.

Findings:

  • Cardiac computed tomography with angiography (CCTA) is presented as a valuable noninvasive tool for assessing the intricate Fontan circulation.
  • The case illustrates the long-term management challenges and the importance of advanced imaging in Fontan patients.

Implications:

  • Understanding the historical development and long-term sequelae of the Fontan operation is crucial for managing complex congenital heart disease.
  • Noninvasive imaging modalities like CCTA play a vital role in the surveillance and management of patients with Fontan physiology.

More Related Videos

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart08:49

Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart

Published on: May 11, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Heart Valves01:16

Heart Valves

The human heart is a complex organ with an intricate system of valves that regulate blood flow. There are two main types of valves: atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...
Coronary Circulation01:21

Coronary Circulation

The heart, an organ critical to survival, gets nourishment not from the blood it pumps but from a separate circulation system known as coronary circulation. This is the shortest circulation in the body and is responsible for supplying the heart with the nutrients it needs to function effectively.
Coronary circulation begins at the base of the aorta, where two main arteries arise—the left and right coronary arteries. These arteries encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus and supply the...
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care01:29

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management01:28

Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...