Relationship Between Functional Health Status and Ventricular Performance After Fontan (A Trial Conducted by the Pediatric Heart Network)

BACKGROUND:

Children born with one functional ventricle and who undergo a Fontan procedure, have a higher incidence of late complications than other congenital heart patients. While the Fontan procedure results in restoring near-normal systemic oxygen saturation, there are recognized problems and little information about the overall health status, functional status and ventricular performance in these children.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

This cross-sectional observational study included children 6-18 years of age who had undergone a Fontan procedure for a congenital cardiac defect. Prospective data collection for each patient occured within a 3 month time period and included cardiac MRI, echocardiography, serology and exercise testing. Historical clinical and surgical data, as well as parent and child self reports of health status, was collected.