A Decision Rule for Determining the Optimal Transplant Listing Window for Patients With a Fontan Physiology

Abstract

The Fontan is a complex surgical procedure used as a palliative treatment for children with univentricular hearts. In the past, the mortality rate was high and the associated comorbidities as a result of the Fontan circulation were many. However, as research into the condition developed, better understanding has led to a massive reduction in early mortality and a rapidly increasing population of such patients surviving well into adulthood. This has led to a large surge in patients with congenital heart disease being referred for cardiac transplant assessment. According to research, listing these patients at the optimal time is the key to improving transplant outcomes. However, determining that optimal time is unclear and controversial. In this article, I address this issue by developing an optimal timing rule that accounts for the factors faced by specialist cardiologists in determining when transplant ought to be considered for this cohort of patients.