CardioRef: AHA/ACC 2015 Sports Participation Selector Guide: Fontan

By the ACC/AHA 2015 guidelines, should my patient with participate in organized sports?

Should my patient with Fontan physiology participate in organized sports?

Need to perform:

Clinical assessment
ECG
Imaging of ventricular function
Exercise testing

"It is recommended that before participation in competitive sports, all athletes who have undergone the Fontan procedure should undergo an evaluation that includes clinical assessment, ECG, imaging assessment of ventricular function, and exercise testing."

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence B)

No symptomatic heart failure or significantly abnormal hemodynamics

"Athletes who have undergone the Fontan procedure and who have no symptomatic heart failure or significantly abnormal intravascular hemodynamics can participate only in low-intensity class IA sports."

Only Class IA

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

⇓

After exercise test assessment

"Participation in other sports may be considered on an individual basis with regard for the athlete’s ability to complete an exercise test without evidence of exercise-induced arrhythmias, hypotension, ischemia, or other concerning clinical symptoms."

May consider sports beyond Class IA on an individual basis.

(Class IIb Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Reference: Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities. A Scientific Statement From the AHA and ACC. Circulation 2015

Disclaimer: This website is derived from published guidelines, but does not constitute medical advice nor does it replace clinical judgement. Only the text in quotation marks are direct quotations from the original guidelines. Text not in quotations as well as the method of information display are all that of the website creator and are not part of the original published guidelines. Please consult a physician to discuss any patient-specific matters.