Case Report Highlights Heart Transplant for Complex Fontan Patient
A case report led by Hüseyin Sicim, MD, and Phoenix Children’s cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons describes a successful heart transplant in a 12-year-old girl with complex congenital heart disease, including dextrocardia, heterotaxy syndrome and single ventricle physiology, after her Fontan circulation began to fail. The team at Phoenix Children’s managed the procedure and follow-up care.
Despite the technical challenges posed by her anatomy, the patient underwent orthotopic heart transplantation without complications and showed significant improvement during follow-up.
This case demonstrates that even patients with highly complex congenital heart disease can safely undergo heart transplantation, offering a life-saving option when Fontan palliation is no longer sufficient.
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