Cell-Based Therapy With Cardiosphere-Derived Cardiocytes: A New Hope for Pediatric Patients With Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease?

Treatment of patients with single ventricle circulation has advanced significantly over the past 50 years with the introduction of the sequence of procedures culminating in the Fontan procedure. Although operative mortality is low in the current era, long-term transplant-free survival in this patient population remains at 50% to 70%. Further advancements in medical management have incrementally improved results, but long-term morbidity and mortality remain of significant concern.