Clinical Guidelines

Surgical Systemic Vein Turndown For Thoracic Duct Decompression in Fontan Patients With Protein-Losing Enteropathy: Role of Multimodality Imaging

A recent American College of Cardiology expert analysis reviews surgical systemic vein (innominate vein) turndown as a promising treatment for protein?losing enteropathy (PLE) in patients with Fontan circulation.

April 6, 2026
1 min

Phoenix Children's Medical Connection

A recent analysis by the American College of Cardiology examines surgical systemic vein turndown for treating protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) in patients with Fontan circulation. This innovative procedure alleviates lymphatic congestion by redirecting thoracic duct drainage into a lower-pressure atrial chamber, potentially serving as an alternative to heart transplantation. The article highlights the significance of multimodality imaging in patient assessment and surgical planning, suggesting that this approach may broaden treatment options for high-risk patients when coordinated by a specialized Fontan team.

Surgical Systemic Vein Turndown For Thoracic Duct Decompression in Fontan Patients With Protein-Losing Enteropathy: Role of Multimodality Imaging

Original Source(s)

Surgical Systemic Vein Turndown For Thoracic Duct Decompression in Fontan Patients With Protein-Losing Enteropathy: Role of Multimodality Imaging