Pulsatile Efficiency and Pediatric Venous Assist Options in Failing Fontan Patients

Single ventricle (SV) anomalies are the fifth most common heart defect (2000 patients per year) and the leading cause of death from all structural birth defects. Total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is the last stage of the palliative surgical reconstruction i.e. Fontan procedure for the infants with SV. A large number of children continue to benefit from the Fontan operation. However, despite many refinements of the surgical procedure in the past 20 years, a relatively high proportion of patients demonstrate a gradual decline in functional capacity and premature death. Most of these failing Fontan patients require heart transplantation [1]. However, donor shortage and the high-risk nature of transplantation for these complex and often very ill patients demand alternative therapeutic options.