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Van Den Helm S, Sparks CN, Ignjatovic V, Monagle P, Attard C. Increased Risk for Thromboembolism After Fontan Surgery: Considerations for Thromboprophylaxis. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:803408. [PMID: 35419321 PMCID: PMC8996130 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.803408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Fontan circulation introduces an increased risk of thromboembolism which is associated with substantial mortality and morbidity. Adverse outcomes of thromboembolic complications post-Fontan surgery vary in both nature and severity, ranging from local tissue infarction and pulmonary embolism to Fontan failure and ischemic stroke. Furthermore, recent studies have identified that subclinical stroke is common yet underdiagnosed in Fontan patients. Fontan patients are commonly treated with antiplatelet agents and/or anticoagulants as primary thromboprophylaxis. Optimal thromboprophylaxis management in the Fontan population is still unclear, and clinical consensus remains elusive despite the growing literature on the subject. This perspective will describe the nature of thromboembolism post-Fontan surgery and provide evidence for the use of both current and emerging thromboprophylaxis options for children and adults living with Fontan circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suelyn Van Den Helm
- Haematology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher Noel Sparks
- Haematology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Vera Ignjatovic
- Haematology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Monagle
- Haematology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.,Department of Haematology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Chantal Attard
- Haematology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Driesen BW, Voskuil M, Grotenhuis HB. Current Treatment Options for the Failing Fontan Circulation. Curr Cardiol Rev 2022; 18:e060122200067. [PMID: 34994331 PMCID: PMC9893132 DOI: 10.2174/1573403x18666220106114518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Fontan operation was introduced in 1968. For congenital malformations, where biventricular repair is unsuitable, the Fontan procedure has provided a long-term palliation strategy with improved outcomes compared to the initially developed procedures. Despite these improvements, several complications merely due to a failing Fontan circulation, including myocardial dysfunction, arrhythmias, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, protein-losing enteropathy, hepatic dysfunction, plastic bronchitis, and thrombo-embolism, may occur, thereby limiting the life-expectancy in this patient cohort. This review provides an overview of the most common complications of Fontan circulation and the currently available treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart W. Driesen
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Laurentius Ziekenhuis, Roermond, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Voskuil
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Heynric B. Grotenhuis
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Martino D, Rizzardi C, Vigezzi S, Guariento C, Sturniolo G, Tesser F, Salvo GD. Long-term management of Fontan patients: The importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:886208. [PMID: 36090574 PMCID: PMC9452819 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.886208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Fontan operation is a palliative procedure that leads to increased survival of patients with a functional single ventricle (SV). Starting from 1967 when the first operation was performed by Francis Fontan, more and more patients have reached adulthood. Furthermore, it is expected that in the next 20 years, the population with Fontan circulation will reach 150,000 subjects. The absence of right ventricular propulsion and the inability to improve cardiac output because of the low cardiac reserve are the main issues with the Fontan circulation; however, potential complications may also involve multiple organ systems, such as the liver, lungs, brain, bones, and the lymphatic system. As these patients were initially managed mainly by pediatric cardiologists, it was important to assure the appropriate transition to adult care with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team, including adult congenital cardiologists and multiple subspecialists, many of whom are neither yet familiar with the pathophysiology nor the end-organ consequences of the Fontan circulation. Therefore, the aim of our work was to collect all the best available evidence on Fontan's complications management to provide "simple and immediate" information sources for practitioners looking for state of the art evidence to guide their decision-making and work practices. Moreover, we suggest a model of follow-up of patients with Fontan based on a patient-centered multidisciplinary approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Martino
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Caterina Rizzardi
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Vigezzi
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Chiara Guariento
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Sturniolo
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Tesser
- Pediatric Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni di Salvo
- Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Unit, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
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