The Fontan surgery is performed in children aged 18-24 months. The child recieves cardiac catherization before the surgery so that the surgeon can evalute the situation. One of the techinques used for the Fontant procedure is the technique called total cavopulmonary connection with a lateral tunnel.

 

Steps for the Fontan Procedure:

1) Cardiopulmonary Bypass is achieved.

2) Right atrium is opend

3) If a hemi- Fontatn procedure was done then the intra-atrial baffle (a wall) is taken out.

4) If a Glenn procedure was done then a baffle (wall) of polutetrafluorethylene is made and placed in the right atrium to direct the blood flow from the inferior vena cava to the pulmonary arteries.

 

      This baffle may help prevent complications in high-risk patients and shorten the period of pleural drainage (the drainage of the area between the lungs and the chest cavity). Some center prefer the extracardiac, istead of the the intracardiac, lateral tunnel Fontan. The extracardiac is when the baffle is put outside the atrium, this is easier and many surgeons decide to do that.