Single Ventricle Fontan Program
Lifelong Care For Patients With Fontan Circulation
For children who are born with a single ventricle heart, the Fontan operation has changed life expectancies and improved outcomes since it was introduced in the 1970's. However, these patients often experience a range of health issues once they reach adulthood. If you have Fontan circulation, it is important to be carefully monitored throughout your life to ensure that the ventricle is functioning properly and providing enough blood flow to the lungs, liver, kidneys and the rest of your body.
The Single Ventricle Fontan Program at the Schneeweiss Adult Congenital Heart Center is one of the few programs in the country dedicated to the care of adult patients with Fontan circulation.
Our multidisciplinary team includes physician-scientists who are leaders in this rapidly evolving area, as well as subspecialty experts in hepatology, pulmonology, interventional cardiology, radiology, and maternal fetal medicine — all working together to provide seamless care throughout our patients lives.
We provide the most up-to-date care for the complex needs of Fontan patients:
- Early detection strategies, including echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and cardiac catheterization that are performed in laboratories dedicated to congenital heart disease
- Liver, lung, and kidney screening
- Novel therapies for the full range of issues, from preventive care to surgical repair by heart surgeons who practice exclusively congenital heart disease surgery in both children and adults
State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic imaging studies are essential to the management of adults with Fontan circulation. Proper use of available imaging modalities including echocardiography, cardiac MRI, CT angiography, and cardiac catheterization ensures precise anatomic and functional diagnosis. At the Schneeweiss Center, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and cardiac catheterization are performed in laboratories dedicated to congenital heart disease.