Open Heart Surgery

The Fontan Procedure is a critical surgical intervention designed for children born with complex congenital heart defects where only one ventricle is functional. It improves circulation by rerouting venous blood directly to the lungs, bypassing the heart. This optimises oxygen levels reduces strain on the heart.

Cost of Fontan Procedure: Ranges from USD 7,000 to 8,000.
Typical Age for Surgery: Usually performed in early childhood after prior staged surgeries.
Procedure Duration: Approximately 4–6 hours.
Hospital Stay: 1–2 weeks for initial recovery, with long-term follow-up essential.

Procedure Highlights:

Conducted under general anaesthesia.

A conduit or graft is placed to connect the inferior vena cava directly to the pulmonary artery.

Continuous monitoring ensures proper heart function post-surgery.

Long-term outcomes are highly favourable, allowing many patients to live active, relatively normal lives with regular medical supervision.

The Fontan Procedure has dramatically improved survival quality of life for children with single-ventricle defects, representing a major advancement in paediatric cardiac surgery.