description Francis Fontan Overview
Francis Fontan was a French cardiac surgeon who developed an operation for patients born with a single effective pumping ventricle. First performed for tricuspid atresia and reported in 1971, the Fontan procedure directs systemic venous blood toward the pulmonary arteries without passage through a functional right ventricle. Modified forms remain palliative treatments for selected children with complex single-ventricle heart defects.
insights Ranking position
Francis Fontan ranks #19 of 342 in the Surgeon ranking, behind Ambroise Paré, ahead of John Hunter.
help Francis Fontan FAQ
What problem does the Fontan procedure correct?
It is designed for congenital heart conditions in which only one ventricle can effectively pump blood. The operation routes systemic venous blood toward the pulmonary arteries without relying on a separate right ventricular pump.
Which heart defect was Francis Fontan's original operation intended to treat?
Fontan initially developed the operation for tricuspid atresia, a defect involving an absent or severely abnormal tricuspid valve. The early clinical work was reported in 1971.
Did Francis Fontan invent the modern version of the Fontan circulation?
Fontan established the central surgical principle, but the operation has been modified substantially since the original atriopulmonary connection. Later approaches include the lateral tunnel and extracardiac conduit configurations.
Why can blood reach the lungs after a Fontan operation without a right ventricle?
Venous pressure drives blood through the pulmonary circulation after the systemic veins are connected to the pulmonary arteries. This arrangement is passive, so low pulmonary resistance and careful patient selection are important.
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