Cardiopulmonary exercise test as a tool in surveillance after Fontan operation

Abstract

Fontan patients have significantly decreased exercise tolerance secondary to several factors, most notably, a lack of a subpulmonary pump to augment systemic venous return to the heart and to overcome the pulmonary vascular resistance. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an important inexpensive non-invasive tool to monitor for subclinical changes and functional data over time that may portend the need for earlier intervention.

Keywords

Fontan / cardiopulmonary exercise test / fontan outcomes / oxygen consumption / oxygen uptake efficiency slope / anaerobic threshold

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