Chennai, October 6, 2026: Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, has achieved a world-first milestone by completing 50 percutaneous Fontan procedures without prior surgical preparation, offering a minimally invasive alternative for carefully selected children with complex single-ventricle congenital heart disease.
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| Dr.Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Hospitals,Chennai region; Dr. Neville A.G. Solomon – Director – Paediatric Cardiothoracic Services, Apollo Children’s Hospitals; Dr. C.S. Muthukumanaran – Senior Consultant & Head, Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Children’s Hospitals; Dr.Sushila Narayanasamy,Unit Head,Apollo Women’s and Children’s Hospitals,Chennai with Children |
The Fontan procedure is the final stage of treatment for many children born with heart defects where only one ventricle can effectively support circulation. The catheter-based approach developed and refined by Apollo’s Paediatric Cardiology and Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery teams uses catheters, wires and stents through blood vessels, avoiding another major open-heart operation in suitable cases.
Dr. C.S. Muthukumaran, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, said the approach may help reduce the burden of another major surgery for children who have already undergone significant cardiac treatment. However, the technique is not suitable for every child. Detailed assessment of cardiac anatomy and haemodynamics, including pulmonary artery anatomy and pressures, ventricular function and venous pathways, is essential, with evaluation potentially involving echocardiography, CT imaging and cardiac catheterisation.
Dr. Neville A.G. Solomon, Director, Paediatric Cardiothoracic Services, Apollo Children’s Hospitals, emphasised that the approach is not about replacing surgery, but bringing paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery together to determine the best treatment pathway for each child. Apollo has performed more than 14,000 catheter-based cardiac interventions in children, reflecting its experience in complex paediatric cardiac care.
Ms. Sindoori Reddy, Director – Strategy, Apollo Hospitals, said the milestone demonstrates how clinical expertise, technology and innovation can expand treatment possibilities for children and their families. The event was attended by Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Region, and Dr. Sushila Narayanasamy, Unit Head, Apollo Women’s & Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, along with the clinical team.
The technique has also evolved through peer-reviewed research published in Progress in Pediatric Cardiology (2023) and JACC: Case Reports (2024), with further refinement reported in 2025. The milestone highlights the growing role of catheter-based interventions while underscoring the importance of careful patient selection, multidisciplinary decision-making and long-term follow-up.
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