Ventricular-Arterial Function and Coupling in the Adult Fontan Circulation [Congenital Heart Disease]

BackgroundIn adult Fontan patients, ventricular or arterial dysfunction may impact homeostasis of the Fontan circulation and predispose to heart failure. We sought to characterize ventricular‐arterial (VA) properties in adult Fontan patients.Methods and ResultsAdult Fontan patients (n=170), including those with right (SRV, n=57) and left (SLV, n=113) dominant ventricular morphology, were compared to age, sex, and body size matched controls (n=170). Arterial function, load‐insensitive measures of contractility, VA coupling, diastolic function, and ventricular efficiency were assessed. Compared to controls, Fontan patients had similar arterial (Ea), but lower end‐systolic ventricular (Ees), elastance, preload recruitable stroke work and peak power index, impaired VA coupling, eccentric remodeling, reduced ventricular efficiency and increased diastolic stiffness (P
Source: JAHA:Journal of the American Heart Association - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Congenital Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Surgery Original Research Source Type: research