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 Monroe Carell 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 Monroe Carell
- 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. Our high-quality care and specialized disease management earned accreditation by the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF). The American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT) has recognized Monroe Carell as a Perfusion Center of Excellence with the 2022 Pillar Award. We are one of only seven children's hospitals in the nation to earn this honor. Our program is also recognized as an Aetna Pediatric Heart Disease Center of Excellence.
- Coordinated care
We work as a team to ensure your child receives the most comprehensive heart care available. From general and fetal cardiologists to cardiac surgeons and critical care specialists, Monroe Carell is here to help your child in their health care journey. As part of a comprehensive academic medical center with one of the top heart programs in the world, we also provide seamless transition of care from childhood into adulthood.
- Dedicated pediatric heart expertise
Our team includes pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists and cardiac certified registered nurse anesthetists with specialized training and experience in providing anesthetics during children's heart surgeries. We carefully select these experts to join us after they complete years of additional training. Our teams extend to nurses certified in cardiac care, ECMO specialists, support services, child life specialists and many others trained specifically in pediatric cardiac care.
- Experienced care
Monroe Carell is a part of Vanderbilt Health, one of the top heart transplant programs in the world. We provide patients with outstanding outcomes and access to innovative new research and treatments.