A clinic dedicated to evaluation and management of patients who have undergone total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), commonly referred to as the Fontan surgery was inaugurated at Thiruvananthapuram.
The clinic inaugurated by Dr Sanjay Behari, Director, at Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) is the first clinic in the country dedicated for comprehensive management complex univentricular congenital heart diseases.
The Fontan pathway was a milestone in the palliation of children born with complex univentricular heart diseases 90% of who would not have survived beyond their first birthday without intervention.
As a centre for comprehensive rehabilitation and follow-up of children and adults who have undergone Fontan surgery, the clinic will help implementation of measures to improve quality of life of these patients by timely consideration for additional investigations as required, including advanced imaging and cardiac catheterization.
It will also involve holistic care for these patients by involving all divisions of Cardiology, the departments of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Anesthesiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists, Vascular surgery from SCTIMST, and Respiratory Medicine, Nephrology, Gastroenterology and Endocrinology consultants whenever required.
This is because, while the ideal Fontan circulation does very well for long, it is not unusual for other organ systems like the liver, kidney, lungs and the gut to present with issues with the newly fashioned circulation. Therefore it is important for patients to be followed up regularly by a Cardiologist and other specialists to find any problems early, when treatment is most effective.
The team at SCIMST have vast expertise in treating complex congenital heart diseases. The institute itself has over 200 patients who have undergone all stages of univentricular palliation, and the number is ever increasing.
A registry of patients with univentricular congenital heart diseases who have undergone Fontan completion will also be formed. The clinic shall also serve as a portal for second opinion and consultations to other providers. This shall be done by the Telemedicine system of SCTIMST.
Cardiology Senior Professor and former Director of SCTIMST Dr Ajit Kumar VK, Medical Superintendent Prof. Rupa Sreedhar, BMT wing Head Dr. Harikrishna Varma, Cardiology Head and Prof. Krishnamoorthy KM, Cardio-surgery Dept Head Prof. Baiju. S .Dharan, Anesthesia Dept Head & Senior Prof.Shrinivas.VG, Radiology Head Prof. Bejoy Thomas, Cardiology Additional Prof. Dr. Deepa S Kumar, Associate Prof. Dr Arun Gopalakrishnan, Nursing Superintendent Smt.Nirmala, and other officials were also attended the inaugural function.
