Fontan Clinic
Children born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or without a heart valve typically need three surgeries to treat single ventricle defects. These surgeries do not correct the heart problem, but they help make it more manageable. Patients can then live fuller lives into adulthood. However, ongoing medical concerns require regular care.
Partnering with your cardiologist, the experts in our Fontan Clinic at Vanderbilt provide careful monitoring and regular care. We consider all the ways a heart condition diagnosed at birth can affect overall health well into adulthood. We work with many other experts at Vanderbilt to evaluate children following a Fontan operation, and create an ongoing care plan that is right for you as you transition from pediatric to adult care.
If you are an adult patient who had these surgeries as a child, your follow-up visits to our clinic will provide the comprehensive, coordinated and convenient care to help ensure the best possible quality of life.
Conditions We Treat
We treat children with all conditions related to single ventricle heart defects, including:
- Anxiety
- Abnormal bone health
- Delayed growth and puberty
- Kidney disease
- Learning issues
- Liver dysfunction
- Lung disease
Meet Your Care Team
Your complete Fontan Clinic care team also includes a Cardiology Nurse, a Nutritionist, and a Physical Therapist.
Rachel SullivanMD, BS
- Congenital Heart Disease, General Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease, Pediatric Heart, Pulmonary Hypertension
Angela J. WeingartenBS, MD, MSCI
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Aortic Center, Cardiovascular Medicine, Congenital Heart Disease, General Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
Anita K. PaiMD
- Benign and Malignant Diseases of the Liver, Gallbladder, and Bile Ducts, General Gastroenterology, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Interventional Endoscopy, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Eric D. AustinMD, MSCI
- Asthma, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Pulmonary Hypertension, Rare and Common Pediatric Pulmonary Diseases
Why Choose Fontan and Single Ventricle Surgery Care at Vanderbilt
- Pediatric heart excellence
The Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell is recognized as one of the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report for delivering leading-edge, compassionate care to children. Our program is also recognized as an Aetna Pediatric Heart Disease Center of Excellence.
- Coordinated care
We treat all congenital and acquired heart conditions in children, and we provide second opinions on diagnoses you may have received from other providers. As part of a comprehensive academic medical center, we also provide a seamless transition of care from childhood into adulthood.
- Experienced care
Monroe Carell is a part of Vanderbilt Health, one of the top heart transplant programs in the world, providing patients with outstanding outcomes and access to innovative new research and treatments.