Heart Transplantation: Failing Fontan Circulation

In this video, Jonathan Johnson, M.D., discusses heart transplantation in patients with failing Fontan circulation.

The indications for heart transplantation after a Fontan operation includes ventricular dysfunction, protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, significant symptoms, and poor quality of life. Due to the anatomy of the heart being unique to each patient, CT scans are used to visualize the heart to determine the transplant strategy.

Studies have shown that patients who undergo heart transplantation after Fontan do as well as those undergoing transplantation without a prior Fontan. Immunosuppressive medications are used after surgery to keep the body from rejecting the new heart, however, infections and even cancer can be a result of the suppressed immune system.

• Learn more about heart transplants.
• Jonathan Johnson, M.D.