What does the Fontan procedure ultimately achieve in hypoplastic left heart syndrome?

The Fontan procedure is a surgical approach performed in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and other single ventricle conditions. The primary goal of this procedure is to create a pathway that facilitates efficient blood flow from the body to the lungs without needing a functioning ventricle dedicated to pumping blood to the lungs.

In the Fontan procedure, blood returning from the body is directed directly into the pulmonary arteries, typically via the use of a conduit or tunnel, which bypasses the heart. This enables all systemic venous return to flow through the pulmonary veins to the lungs. By accomplishing this, the procedure ensures that deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation can easily reach the lungs for oxygenation without necessitating a separate pumping action from a left ventricle, which is often underdeveloped or absent in this condition.

This central adaptation allows patients to maintain adequate oxygen saturation levels despite having only one functional ventricle, thus improving their overall quality of life and reducing the risk of complications associated with poor pulmonary blood flow.