Current treatment and prognosis in children with functionally univentricular hearts

Abstract

For more than 30 years Fontan-type procedures have been performed for surgical treatment in patients with functionally univentricular hearts. Advances in proper patient selection, staging of the Fontan palliation, and modifications of the surgical technique resulted in continuous improvement of the surgical results during the past two decades. However, increasing experience with medium term and long term follow-up of the Fontan circulation has drawn attention to a number of sequelae and chronic complications affecting a significant number of patients.