Serial assessment of somatic and cardiovascular development in patients with single ventricle undergoing Fontan procedure

Development of Weight and Height Age z-Score after Total Cavopulmonary Connection

“…All previous studies demonstrated that patients with univentricular heart have impaired somatic growth in infant age. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Several studies clearly demonstrated that this reduced somatic development was improved after stage II palliation by means of BCPS or hemi-Fontan procedure. [4][5][6][7][8][9]11,15 Although most of the patients had staged Fontan completion in this study, our results also showed that previous BCPS was a significant protective factor for the weight z-score at TCPC.…”

“…All previous studies demonstrated that patients with univentricular heart have impaired somatic growth in infant age [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Several studies clearly demonstrated that this reduced somatic development was improved after stage II palliation by means of BCPS or hemi-Fontan procedure [4-9, 11, 15].…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated significant catch-up growth in weight gain. [4][5][6][7][8]12,16 Day et al demonstrated that children with univentricular hearts grow more adequately following the BCPS than after the Fontan procedure, and that a decrease in growth after the Fontan procedure is associated with a poor prognosis. 4 Cohen et al demonstrated that weight improved by the time of the Fontan completion, and for the first 2 years after the Fontan procedure, but never normalized.…”

“…During childhood, growth is a fundamental measure of response to therapy [3,4]. Thus, the weight and height of children with univentricular hearts who have undergone Fontan procedure were studied to determine the effect of each intervention on growth [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. It is generally known that early surgical and catheter intervention and early removal of volume loading and cyanosis leads to improvement of somatic growth [6][7][8].…”

“…3,4 Thus, the weight and height of children with univentricular hearts who have undergone Fontan procedure were studied to determine the effect of each intervention on growth. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] It is generally known that early surgical and catheter intervention and early removal of volume loading and cyanosis lead to improvement of somatic growth. [6][7][8] However, many patients who have undergone Fontan palliation, which is often fraught with complications, might afterward suffer from impaired somatic growth.…”