Longitudinal Changes in Ventricular Mechanics in Adolescents After the Fontan Operation

Background: Ventricular dysfunction is a significant clinical challenge in the long-term follow-up of patients with single-ventricle (SV) physiology. Ventricular function and myocardial mechanics can be studied using speckle-tracking echocardiography, which provides information on myocardial deformation. Limited information is available on serial changes in SV myocardial mechanics after the Fontan operation. The aim of this study was to describe serial changes in myocardial mechanics in children after the Fontan operation and the relationship of these changes with myocardial fibrosis markers as obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance and exercise performance parameters.

Methods: The authors hypothesized that ventricular mechanics decline in patients with SVs over time and are associated with increased myocardial fibrosis and reduced exercise performance. A single-center retrospective cohort study including adolescents after the Fontan operation was conducted. Ventricular strain and torsion were assessed using speckle-tracking echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiopulmonary exercise testing data closest to the latest echocardiographic examinations were performed. The most recent follow-up echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance data were compared with those from sex- and age-matched control subjects and with individual patients' early post-Fontan data.

Results: Fifty patients with SVs (31 left ventricle, 13 right ventricle [RV], and six codominant) were included. Median time at follow-up echocardiography from the time of Fontan was 12.8 years (interquartile range [IQR], 10.6 to 16.6 years). Compared with early post-Fontan echocardiography, follow-up assessment showed reduced global longitudinal strain (-17.5% [IQR, -14.5% to -19.5%] vs -19.8% [IQR, -16.0% to -21.7%], P = .01], circumferential strain (-15.7% [IQR, -11.4% to -18.7%] vs -18.9% [IQR, -15.2% to -25.0%], P = .009), and torsion (1.28°/cm [IQR, 0.51°/cm to 1.74°/cm] vs 1.72°/cm [IQR, 0.92°/cm to 2.34°/cm], P = .02), with decreased apical rotation but no significant change in basal rotation. Single RVs had lower torsion compared with single left ventricles (1.04°/cm [IQR, 0.12°/cm to 2.20°/cm] vs 1.25°/cm [IQR, 0.25°/cm to 2.51°/cm], P = .01). T1 values were higher in patients with SV compared with control subjects (1,009 ± 36 vs 958 ± 40 msec, P = .004) and in those with single RVs compared with single left ventricles (1,023 ± 19 vs 1,006 ± 17 msec, P = .02). T1 was correlated with circumferential strain (r = 0.59, P = .04) and inversely correlated with O₂ saturation (r = -0.67, P < .001) and torsion (r = -0.71, P = .02). Peak oxygen consumption was correlated with torsion (r = 0.52, P = .001) and untwist rates (r = 0.23, P = .03).

Conclusions: After the Fontan procedures, there is a progressive decrease in myocardial deformation parameters. The progressive decrease in SV torsion is related to a decrease in apical rotation, which is more pronounced in single RVs. Decreased torsion is associated with increased markers of myocardial fibrosis and lower maximal exercise capacity. Torsional mechanics may be an important parameter to monitor after Fontan palliation, but further prognostic information is required.