Mortality Risk Stratification in Fontan Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation

Abstract The number of patients who require orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) for failing Fontan physiology continues to grow; however, the methods and tools to evaluate risk of OHT are limited. This study aimed to identify a set of preoperative variables and characteristics that were associated with a greater risk of postoperative mortality in patients who received OHT for failing Fontan physiology. 36 Fontan patients were identified as having undergone OHT at UCLA Medical Center from 1991 to 2014. Data was collected retrospectively and analyzed. The primary endpoint was designated as postoperative mortality. After an average follow-up time of 3.5 years, 17 (44%) patients suffered postoperative mortality. Patient characteristics including: 1. age