Introduction

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 delivers an advanced multidisciplinary review of the lifelong management of patients living with Fontan circulation. Developed through UPMC, the symposium focuses on the evolving medical, interventional, electrophysiologic, and surgical challenges associated with single-ventricle congenital heart disease and Fontan physiology.

Designed for specialists involved in congenital cardiology and complex cardiac care, the program examines both pediatric and adult considerations in Fontan management, including mental health, pregnancy, liver disease, advanced imaging, mechanical circulatory support, ventricular assist devices, transplantation, and post-transplant intensive care strategies.

Through expert-led lectures and clinically focused discussions, participants gain updated insight into the long-term complications associated with Fontan circulation and the rapidly evolving therapeutic approaches used to improve survival, hemodynamics, quality of life, and transplant outcomes in this complex patient population.

Files Included

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 educational package includes a comprehensive set of cardiovascular learning materials optimized for advanced congenital heart disease education.

Included resources:

• 22 video lectures
• 22 subtitle files (.vtt)
• 18 downloadable PDF presentations
• Total course size: 4.56 GB
• Streaming and recorded educational sessions
• Downloadable conference learning materials
• Multimedia congenital cardiology education resources
• Advanced Fontan circulation management lectures

These materials support flexible self-paced learning and long-term clinical review for specialists involved in congenital and structural heart disease management.

Why This Course Is Important

The Fontan procedure remains one of the most important palliative surgical advancements in congenital heart disease, allowing survival into adolescence and adulthood for patients born with single-ventricle physiology. However, long-term Fontan circulation is associated with increasingly complex systemic complications affecting cardiovascular, hepatic, lymphatic, neurologic, and psychosocial health.

As survival rates improve, clinicians are now managing a growing population of adult Fontan patients facing challenges that include arrhythmias, ventricular dysfunction, thromboembolic disease, Fontan-associated liver disease, protein-losing enteropathy, pregnancy-related risk, mental health concerns, and transplant planning.

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 addresses these evolving challenges through a multidisciplinary educational framework integrating congenital cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, electrophysiology, imaging, transplant medicine, intensive care, and structural heart intervention. The program emphasizes practical patient management strategies relevant to both pediatric and adult congenital cardiac care.

What Participants Will Learn

Participants completing this symposium will strengthen their understanding of the long-term management of Fontan circulation and the multidisciplinary strategies required to optimize outcomes in complex congenital heart disease.

Learning objectives include:

• Evaluating the evolution of the Fontan-Kreutzer circulation and its current clinical challenges
• Implementing comprehensive management strategies for post-Fontan patients
• Addressing mental health, pregnancy, and Fontan-associated liver disease within longitudinal care planning
• Assessing advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and catheterization techniques for optimizing Fontan circulation
• Determining appropriate indications and timing for mechanical circulatory support and ventricular assist devices
• Evaluating heart transplantation and combined heart-liver transplantation strategies
• Analyzing emerging surgical alternatives and future structural heart interventions
• Reviewing post-transplant CICU management strategies for complex congenital heart disease patients

The curriculum integrates congenital cardiac physiology with practical therapeutic decision-making relevant to modern Fontan management.

Full Course Topics & Lectures

Evolution of Fontan Circulation

Evolution of the Fontan-Kreutzer Circulation

Current Challenges in Fontan Physiology

Long-Term Outcomes in Fontan Patients

Comprehensive Post-Fontan Management

Mental Health Considerations in Fontan Patients

Pregnancy and Fontan Circulation

Fontan-Associated Liver Disease

Longitudinal Care Strategies for Single-Ventricle Physiology

Imaging, Electrophysiology & Catheterization

Advanced Imaging Techniques in Fontan Circulation

Electrophysiology in Congenital Heart Disease

Catheterization Strategies for Fontan Optimization

Hemodynamic Assessment and Surveillance

Mechanical Support & Transplantation

Mechanical Circulatory Support in Fontan Patients

Ventricular Assist Devices in Congenital Heart Disease

Timing of Organ Transplantation

Heart Transplantation Strategies

Combined Heart and Liver Transplant Planning

Surgical Innovation & Future Interventions

Novel Surgical Alternatives for Fontan Circulation

Future Structural Heart Interventions

Emerging Therapeutic Technologies

Post-Transplant & Critical Care Management

Post-Transplant CICU Management Strategies

Intensive Care Considerations in Fontan Patients

Complex Congenital Heart Disease Critical Care

Educational Experience & Learning Features

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 combines advanced congenital cardiology education with clinically focused discussions designed for specialists managing complex single-ventricle physiology.

Educational features include:

• 22 expert-led cardiovascular video lectures
• Downloadable PDF conference presentations
• Subtitle-supported educational resources
• Advanced congenital heart disease discussions
• Multidisciplinary Fontan management reviews
• Case-based cardiovascular learning
• Structural heart and transplant medicine updates
• Practical discussions relevant to pediatric and adult congenital care
• Self-paced digital access for flexible review

The symposium integrates congenital cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, electrophysiology, imaging, transplantation, and intensive care medicine into a comprehensive educational experience relevant to modern Fontan management.

Who Should Take This Course

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 is intended for clinicians involved in congenital cardiology, structural heart disease, cardiothoracic surgery, transplant medicine, and critical care management.

This program is especially valuable for:

• Pediatric cardiologists
• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• Intensive care specialists
• Congenital heart disease specialists
• Cardiac intensivists
• Electrophysiologists
• Heart failure specialists
• Congenital cardiac surgeons
• Fellows and trainees in pediatric and adult congenital cardiology
• Advanced cardiac care providers involved in congenital heart disease management

The curriculum is particularly relevant for clinicians managing complex Fontan physiology across pediatric and adult patient populations.

Clinical Applications & Practice Benefits

The symposium provides clinically relevant education focused on improving multidisciplinary management of Fontan circulation and complex congenital cardiac disease.

Participants gain practical insight into:

• Longitudinal management of Fontan physiology
• Recognition and treatment of Fontan-associated complications
• Advanced hemodynamic assessment and surveillance strategies
• Electrophysiology and catheter-based management approaches
• Mechanical circulatory support and ventricular assist device selection
• Heart and combined organ transplantation planning
• Intensive care management following transplantation
• Multidisciplinary coordination for complex congenital cardiac patients

The educational content supports improved therapeutic decision-making while strengthening understanding of long-term congenital heart disease management strategies.

Professional Summary

The UPMC International Fontan Symposium 2023 provides an advanced and clinically focused review of Fontan circulation management, congenital cardiology, transplant medicine, and multidisciplinary care strategies for patients with single-ventricle physiology. Developed through UPMC, the symposium delivers contemporary education relevant to pediatric and adult congenital heart disease specialists managing increasingly complex Fontan populations.

From electrophysiology and catheterization to liver disease, pregnancy, mechanical circulatory support, transplantation, and post-transplant critical care, the curriculum explores the full spectrum of modern Fontan management through expert-led cardiovascular education and practical clinical discussion.

Its integration of congenital cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, imaging, transplant medicine, and intensive care makes this symposium a valuable educational resource for specialists seeking advanced insight into long-term Fontan circulation care.

4. Topics

1. 1. 01 Evolution of the Fontan-Kreutzer Circulation Past and Current Challenges

   2. 02 Resilience and Optimizing Mental Health Post-Fontan

   3. 03 Pregnancy in Fontan

   4. 04 Exercise in Fontan Not Release

   5. 05 Panel Discussion

   6. 06 Approaches to Fontan Management Program

   7. 07 Advances in Imaging Post Fontan

   8. 08 Electrophysiology Considerations in Fontan Management

   9. 09 Catheterization Strategies for Fontan Management

   10. 10 Future Structural Heart Interventions in the Fontan Patient

   11. 11 Fontan Associated Liver Disease

   12. 12 Panel Discussion

   13. 13 Medications in the Symptomatic Fontan Patient

   14. 14 Inotropy, Ventricular Assist Device, and Mechanical Circulatory Support

   15. 15 Post-Transplant Management and Planning in Fontan

   16. 16 CICU Management Tips Post-Heart and Post-Heart Liver Transplant

   17. 17 How to Refer to Transplant at the Right Time

   18. 18 Living with a Fontan Operation Patient Perspective

   19. 19 Panel Discussion

   20. 20 Case Presentation Heart Single Organ Transplant vs. Heart Liver Combined Organ Transplant

   21. 21 Heart Single Organ Transplant vs. HeartLiver Combined Organ Transplant Not Release

   22. 22 Surgical Considerations to Transplant

   23. 23 Novel Alternatives to Transplant Biventricular and One-and-a-Half Conversion

   24. 24 Lymphatics in Fontan Commandeering the “Other” Vasculature Not Release

   25. 25 Panel Discussion