ACHD Fontan Symposium

Beyond Palliation: Exploring Transplantation Options for Fontan Patients was a full-day, live in-person and virtual hybrid course held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles. The program brought together experts to address the complex needs of patients with “failing” Fontan physiology.

Designed for a multidisciplinary audience, the course welcomed adult and pediatric congenital cardiologists, surgeons, transplant and heart failure specialists, hepatologists, nurses, advanced practice providers and trainees. Sessions focused on collaborative, team-based care across the Fontan lifespan.

Faculty shared evidence-based updates on medical therapies, surveillance strategies, Fontan-associated liver disease and catheter-based and surgical interventions. The course also explored the evolving role of mechanical support and single- and multi-organ transplantation for this growing and aging patient population.

Welcome and Introduction

Jamil Aboulhosn, MD

Overview of UCLA Fontan Heart and Heart - Liver Transplant Outcomes

Leigh Reardon, MD

Fontan Survivorship Program - The UCLA Model

Jeannette Lin, MD

Exercise Testing and The Importance of Exercise and Inspiratory Muscle Training

Priya Pillutla, MD

Fontan Associated Liver Disease

Robert Venick, MD

Advanced Imaging of the Adult Fontan Patient

Ashley Prosper, MD 

Psychological Factors and The Importance of Psychosocial Support

David Highfill, LCSW 

Case Presentation

Hans Gao, MD

Invasive Hemodynamics and Role for Catheter Based Interventions

Jamil Aboulhosn, MD

Lymphatic Intervention for the Failing Fontan

Sanjay P. Sinha, MD

Mechanical Circulatory Support in the Single Ventricle Patient

Ming-Sing Si, MD

Referring the Failing Fontan for Transplant Evaluation

Jeremy Nicolarsen, MD

Case Presentation 

Eihab Ghantous, MD

Keynote Speaker - When to Think About Transplantation

Matthew Lewis, MD, MPH

UNOS Organ Allocation and the Role of Mechanical Support

Daniel Cruz, MD, PhD

Importance of a Comprehensive Evaluation Process 

Jeannette Lin, MD

OHT vs CHLT - The Cardiac Surgeon's Perspective

Glen Van Arsdell, MD

CHLT - The Liver Surgeon's Perspective

Fady Kaldas, MD

Intraoperative Management

Lorraine Lubin, MD

Peri and Postoperative Care

Joseph Meltzer, MD

Long Term Post Transplant Management

Darko Vucicevic, MD

National Heart-Liver Consortium

Fady Kaldas, MD

Patient Story - Skylar & Alex Collins

Leigh Reardon, MD & Jeremy Nicolarsen, MD