Massive intestinal albumin loss after Fontan operation.

Massive intestinal protein loss was demonstrated and the site of loss determined by abdominal scintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin in a 9-year-old girl following the Fontan operation for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Significant activity accumulating in the lower small intestine and moving with its contents into the colon were shown. Her condition may have resulted from intestinal lymphangiectasia, caused by increased central venous pressure. Abdominal scintigraphy with 99mTc-human serum albumin is useful in the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy.