abstract
- BACKGROUND: Patients with single-ventricle congenital heart disease may present for scoliosis correction. These patients undergo a series of cardiac operations that create a novel circulation that has a significant impact on the management of their spinal surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21-year-old man with severe scoliosis presented for posterior T4-L3 spinal fusion. He was born with complex congenital heart disease that resulted in his having a single functioning ventricle. He underwent a series of operations culminating in a Fontan procedure to palliate his heart disease. Both the surgical procedure and the anesthetic plan were modified based on his abnormal physiology, which led to a successful correction with no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have undergone a Fontan procedure can successfully undergo a lengthy scoliosis correction, but it requires multidisciplinary planning.