Fontan Conversion Cost in Germany

The cost of Fontan conversion in Germany typically ranges from $7,000 to $25,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Fontan conversion is a re-operation for people who had an older type of Fontan operation (atriopulmonary connection), converting it to a newer total cavopulmonary connection, often with treatment for heart rhythm problems. In Germany, the total depends on:

• Rhythm surgery: maze procedure or ablation.
• Pacemaker: if needed.
• Intensive care and stay: after major surgery.
• Lifelong follow-up: with an adult congenital heart team.

Fontan conversion is complex re-operative heart surgery, and total costs often exceed the range above.

A Korean single-centre series of 21 patients (1998 to 2013) describes how the older atriopulmonary Fontan can lead to enlargement of the right atrium, irregular heart rhythms and clots.

Conversion to an extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection was done a median of 13.8 years after the first Fontan. Rhythm surgery was added in 8 patients and a pacemaker in 3.

In this series there were no deaths from the operation, and survival was 92.3% at 5 years and 83.1% at 10 years. Irregular rhythms returned in 6 patients.

This is a small study from one centre, so results elsewhere may differ.

International patients are usually treated in Germany as self-paying patients: the hospital reviews the medical reports, sends a cost estimate and asks for an advance payment before admission, then settles the final bill after discharge.

Inpatient hospital care in Germany is billed under the German DRG system, which depends on the main diagnosis, other diagnoses and the procedures carried out, so the final amount is known only after the stay.

Children's and congenital heart surgery is usually provided in specialist heart centres. Ask about the centre's experience with this operation and what the estimate includes.