Natural Shear Wave Elastography: A Promising Tool to Assess Myocardial Stiffness in Fontan Patients
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that Fontan hearts may be stiffer than normal and that SW velocities are higher in patients with a Fontan circulatory failure. Moreover, SW speed was related to SVP.
Study context
- Population
- Fontan patientsFontan patients, SVP available in n = 30
- Participants
- 47 patients
- Comparison
- Shear wave (SW) speed in Fontan patients vs age-matched healthy volunteers
- Fontan patientsn = 47
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Average SW speed after AVVC
P < 0.001
Further findings
Average SW speed after outflow valve closure · higher in Fontan patients
P < 0.001
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| SW speed, Fontan circulatory failure vs well-functioning Fontan patients · increased with Fontan circulatory failure | P = 0.008 |
- SW speed, Fontan circulatory failure vs well-functioning Fontan patients: Fontan circulatory failure 6.3 ± 1.4 m/s
- SW speed, Fontan circulatory failure vs well-functioning Fontan patients: well-functioning Fontan patients 4.9 ± 1.5 m/s
Correlation of SW velocities after atrioventricular valve closure (AVVC) with SVP
- R
- 0.55
- P
- P = 0.002
- No other conventional diastolic parameter correlated to SVP
Original publication
Natural Shear Wave Elastography: A Promising Tool to Assess Myocardial Stiffness in Fontan Patients. JACC Adv. Published 20 February 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it