Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, Marks Milestone of 50 Successful Percutaneous Fontan Procedures

Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, has completed 50 successful percutaneous Fontan procedures, marking an important milestone in advanced pediatric cardiac care and the management of complex congenital heart disease.  

 
The Fontan procedure is designed for selected children born with single-ventricle heart defects, where only one ventricle can effectively support circulation. Traditionally, Fontan completion involves open-heart surgery to redirect oxygen-poor venous blood directly to the lungs. A percutaneous Fontan uses a catheter-based technique to establish this circulation without conventional open-heart surgery.  
 
For appropriately selected patients, this minimally invasive approach may reduce the physical burden associated with another major operation and support recovery. Determining whether a child is suitable for the procedure, however, requires careful patient selection, detailed cardiac assessment and specialist multidisciplinary expertise. 

 
Completing 50 successful procedures reflects Apollo Children’s Hospitals’ specialised expertise in pediatric interventional cardiology. Beyond the clinical milestone, each procedure represents a child and family navigating the challenges of congenital heart disease. The achievement highlights the role of evidence-led innovation, specialist expertise and patient-centred care in expanding treatment possibilities for children with complex cardiac conditions.