Session Description: Surgical planning for the Fontan operation using computational fluid dynamic modeling has been around for over a decade and has contributed to our understanding of the hemodynamics of the Fontan pathway and has helped some hundred patients throughout the world. Metrics produced from this technique such as powerless and pathway resistance have been associated with exercise performance, quality of life and the development of liver fibrosis and holds the promise to intervene to improve these morbidities. Virtual surgical planning has also spawned some different configurations of the Fontan pathway such as the “Y” graft option and has cured pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. Nevertheless, computational modeling remains a “boutique” technique that is not widely used for a couple of reasons such as specialized expertise and the time needed perform it. This session will discuss what computational modeling for the Fontan is, its advantages clinically, why it has not come into widespread use and attempt to find solutions to bringing it to the masses.

Panelists:

Mark Fogel, MD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

David Hoganson, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital

Alison Marsden, PhD, Stanford University