About the Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program

Over the past 10 years, early outcomes for patients with single ventricle heart defects have improved dramatically. However, the period between the first and second required operations remains a very vulnerable time.

The Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program (ISVMP) provides specialized care for high-risk infants during the time between the two necessary heart repair procedures. The goal of the program is to prevent life-threatening events and improve growth between the first and second operations at CHOP.

Families with a child in the Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program benefit from:

  • Comprehensive management and monitoring from the period of the first operation to the second
  • Education to support all individuals involved in the care of infants with single ventricle heart defects
  • Enhanced communication and collaboration between CHOP’s Cardiac Center and community healthcare providers
  • Help in reducing parental stress and anxiety, thanks to structured education and support, as well as improved quality of life for their infants

About staged reconstruction

Children with single ventricle heart defects undergo a series of two or three operations during their first three years of life. This series of operations, known as staged reconstruction, reconfigures the heart and circulatory system. The altered system is called the Fontan circulation.

The period between the first operation performed in newborns and the second surgery (called the hemi-Fontan or Glenn operation) remains a very vulnerable time for infants. Certain events or illnesses may place additional stress on the heart and lungs, and increase the risk of complications for these patients.

The Cardiac Center at Children’s Hospital has extensive experience caring for children with single ventricle heart defects, which is why we recognized the importance of a dedicated program that focuses on the care of infants between the first and second operations. The Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program provides care for these children beginning after the newborn operation until they undergo the Glenn operation, whether they're being cared for in the Hospital or at home.

CHOP's ISVMP team also participates in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC), a project dedicated to improving survival and quality of life of infants with single ventricle heart defects during the interstage period.