Outcomes of Fontan Patients Undergoing Combined Heart - Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Hospitals Across the U.S.
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- Combined heart-liver transplant is increasingly common in Fontan patients as liver disease emerges with longer survival into adolescence.
- 85% of pediatric combined heart-liver transplant recipients survived at 1 year despite complex anatomy like hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
- 3-year survival after combined heart-liver transplant matches heart-only transplant, supporting aggressive intervention in advanced liver disease.
- Fontan-associated liver disease is a rising clinical concern requiring multidisciplinary transplant evaluation in adolescent survivors.
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What happens when kids who underwent Fontan procedure don't just need a new heart, but a new liver as well. I'm Lizzie Lee from Cincinnati Children's, and this is an article you should know about. As more Fontan patients are surviving in adolescence and adulthood, liver disease is becoming a rising issue, and combined heart liver transplantation is happening more often. This study looked at children and young adults undergoing combined heart liver transplant at hospitals across the US in the last few years. Many of the patients were complex and had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Despite that, survival was strong after combined heart liver transplant. About 85% survived at 1 year, and long-term outcomes were excellent. Even more striking, 3-year survival was basically identical to patients who received a heart transplant alone. The big takeaway, combined heart liver transplant is effective and increasingly common for Fontan patients with advanced liver disease. Let us know what you think in the comments below and stay tuned for more articles that you should know about.