FONTAN CIRCULATION

A Growing Need

Due to extraordinary advances in treatment in the past 40 years, there are now approximately 70,000 individuals with single ventricle congenital heart defects (SVCHD) living with a Fontan circulation.

What is a Fontan Circulation?

The term SVCHD refers to a wide range of cardiac defects where only one of the heart’s two ventricles is of adequate function. Because of this, patients with some SVCHDs will undergo staged surgeries to ultimately reach a Fontan circulation, where the heart is ultimately reconstructed to allow the remaining functional chamber to be used to pump blood out to the body. Read more about Fontan circulation here.

Who Receives a Fontan Surgery?

Common SVCHD diagnoses include tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), double inlet left ventricle, unbalanced atrioventricular septal (or canal) defect, and others associated with heterotaxy syndrome.

Many individuals born with HLHS will receive a Fontan surgery as the last procedure in a series of three surgeries, which are outlined here by the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC).

How Can FON Help?

The Fontan Outcomes Network, a lifespan learning network made up of a community of patients, families, clinicians, and researchers, seeks to transform outcomes for all people affected by single ventricle heart disease by leveraging data to facilitate research, drive improvement, and spark innovation. Read more about Our Network here.