Single ventricle and fontan procedures

Abstract

Fontan procedures are radical surgical reconstructions performed for children born with only one effective ventricle, or two that cannot be separated functionally. They entail the connection of the pulmonary vascular resistance downstream of the systemic vascular resistance, flow through both being delivered, in series, by the one ventricle, but at the cost of elevated systemic venous pressure (Fig. 10.1). This aims to eliminate shunting and the associated ventricular volume loading, and to achieve full pulmonary oxygenation.