Abstract 16822: Growth Curves Describing a Single Ventricle Population After Fontan Procedure

Abstract

Introduction: Complex single ventricle congenital heart disease (CHD) patients are subject to multiple stressors early in life that affect somatic growth. Pre-Fontan growth patterns are well-described, but post-Fontan growth has not been extensively studied in the current era. We sought to describe post-Fontan growth patterns by creating sex-specific body mass index (BMI)-for-age curves. Hypothesis: There is no difference in the growth of post-Fontan pediatric patients when compared to published normative data. Methods: A single-center, preexisting database was retrospectively queried for all patients who underwent Fontan procedure between 2006 and 2018. Patients with a genetic syndrome, a primary endocrine disorder, or significant prematurity were excluded. BMI-for-age curves were created for both male and female patients using anthropometric data extracted from the electronic medical record. Curves were then visually compared with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. Results: Of 227 patients who underwent primary Fontan operation, 37 were excluded. Of the remaining 190 patients, 59% were male. All had an extracardiac conduit, half had right-ventricular dominant CHD, and 15% had a Fontan fenestration. Median age and weight at surgery were 3.9 years and 15 kilograms, respectively. BMI curves were similar in appearance to CDC BMI-for-age growth charts, with adiposity rebound at age 6. BMI increased more rapidly in teen boys compared with girls, and a total of five patients (2.6%) had BMI values greater than 25 kg/m 2 at 16 years of age. Conclusion: Post-Fontan patients at our institution demonstrate BMI-for-age patterns similar to those of the general population during childhood and early adolescence, with adiposity rebound occurring at a typical age. Though excess weight gain does not completely spare patients with single ventricle CHD, overweight status appears to be less common than in the general pediatric population.