# Anorexia nervosa in a postoperative patient with Ebstein's anomaly

## TL;DR

A patient with a heart condition developed an eating disorder after surgery, highlighting the link between congenital heart disease and psychological issues.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the rare coexistence of congenital heart disease and anorexia nervosa, emphasizing the need for psychological evaluation in such patients.

## Key findings

- A 21-year-old female with Ebstein's anomaly developed anorexia nervosa following Fontan surgery.
- Initial symptoms were attributed to physical conditions, but eating disorder pathology became evident over time.
- The case suggests congenital heart disease patients may be more prone to eating disorders than the general population.

## Abstract

Along with the improved prognosis of patients with congenital heart disease, the associated diverse complications are under scrutiny. Due to various medical restrictions on their upbringing, patients with congenital heart disease often have coexisting mental disorders. However, reports on patients with congenital heart disease and coexisting eating disorders are rare. Here, we report the case of a patient who developed anorexia nervosa (AN) following surgery for Ebstein's anomaly.

A 21‐year‐old female with Ebstein's anomaly who underwent Fontan surgery was transferred to our institution with suspected AN after >2 years of intermittent stays at a medical hospital for decreased appetite. Initially, she did not desire to lose weight or fear obesity, and we suspected that she was suffering from appetite loss due to a physical condition associated with Fontan circulation. However, the eating disorder pathology gradually became more apparent.

Our experience suggests that patients with congenital heart disease are more likely to have a psychological background and physical problems that might contribute to eating disorders than the general population.

Organic or psychogenic.