Fontan, also known as Fontan procedure, refers to a surgical intervention designed to treat certain types of congenital heart defects. It is commonly performed in pediatric patients who have a functional single ventricle, a condition characterized by the underdevelopment or absence of one of the ventricles in the heart.
During a Fontan procedure, the surgeon redirects the venous blood flow in the heart so that it bypasses the non-functional ventricle and directly reaches the lungs for oxygenation. This is achieved by establishing a connection between the inferior vena cava, which carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body, and the pulmonary arteries. The procedure involves creating a pathway or conduit using a synthetic tube or the patient's own tissue, such as the right atrium or pulmonary artery.
The Fontan procedure effectively separates the systemic and pulmonary circulations by allowing deoxygenated blood from the body to flow directly into the pulmonary arteries, rather than being mixed with oxygenated blood. Although the procedure can greatly improve the quality of life for patients with single ventricle defects, it does not restore a completely normal circulation and is typically considered palliative rather than curative.
Postoperatively, patients who undergo the Fontan procedure require lifelong medical follow-up and monitoring to detect and manage potential complications, such as arrhythmias, thromboembolism, or heart failure. Overall, the Fontan procedure represents a significant advancement in interventional cardiology and has become a crucial treatment option for children with single ventricle physiology.
