Fontan Route Remodeling over Time: A Longitudinal Quantitative 3D Case Series

TL;DR

This study uses 3D imaging to track how the Fontan surgical route changes over time in patients, showing that remodeling is individual and not just due to body growth.

Contribution

The study introduces a quantitative 3D approach to analyze individualized Fontan route remodeling over time.

Findings

All patients showed anterior displacement of the Fontan route with a mean shift of 0.29″ ± 0.33″.

Four of five patients exhibited increased convexity over time.

Localized tissue growth was minimal and heterogeneous, up to 0.2 mm/year.

Abstract

Fontan patients experience anatomical remodeling over time, yet the mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize full-route Fontan remodeling and evaluate whether observed morphological changes arise from somatic growth alone or from the combined influence of conduit properties, surgical design, thoracic anatomy, and mechanical forces. Five Fontan patients (four extracardiac, one lateral tunnel) underwent analysis using two MRI-derived 3D models obtained between 1 and 4 years apart. Directional displacement was assessed using 3D shape overlays, surface geometry was quantified using the Koenderink Shape Index (KSI), and patient-specific growth mapping estimated localized tissue dynamics. Statistical analyses included a one-sample t-test for mean anterior displacement, the Grubbs’ test for outlier detection, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for KSI comparisons across time points. All patients exhibited anterior displacement of the Fontan route, with a mean shift of 0.29″ ± 0.33″ and one significant outlier (lateral tunnel, 0.87″). Four of five patients showed increased convexity over time. Growth mapping revealed minimal, heterogeneous native-tissue expansion, with localized growth up to 0.2 mm/year. Individual remodeling trajectories varied and did not consistently align with localized anterior growth, indicating that Fontan route remodeling is highly individualized and cannot be explained by somatic growth alone. This retrospective longitudinal case series study highlights the value of quantitative 3D geometric tools for assessing subtle Fontan route remodeling and supports the feasibility of growth-aware, patient-specific modeling frameworks in single-ventricle physiology.

Figures