Your Visit | Overview
A visit to the Fontan at Boston (FAB) Clinic is generally a one- to two-day experience. On the first day, you will have several tests to check your cardiac and overall health. These may include:
- Exercise testing
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT scan
- Echocardiography
- Liver ultrasound
- Liver ultrasound elastography
- Liver MRI elastography
- Blood and urine analysis
- Neurodevelopmental testing
On the second day, you will meet with a series of specialists, depending on your age and health needs. Most likely, these specialists will include:
- Hepatologist: a doctor who specializes in Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD)
- Liver radiologist
- Exercise physiologist
- Behavioral health specialist (for pediatric patients)
- Psychologist or mental health specialist (for adult patients)
- Cardiologist who specializes in single ventricle heart disease
If appropriate for your individual care, you may also meet with a specialist from one or more of the following specialties:
- Endocrinology for endocrine problems (such as low bone density) associated with the Fontan circulation
- Nephrology for kidney problems associated with single ventricle heart disease
- Pulmonary medicine for respiratory conditions that relate to the Fontan circulation
- Hematology for blood disorders
- Vascular medicine for issues with circulation and lower extremity congestion
- Immunology for immune issues associated with the Fontan circulation
Once you have met with all of the specialists for your care, we will convene to collaborate and develop an overall treatment plan for your care. We will review this plan with you before you leave the clinic, and we'll also share it with your primary cardiologist.