tokens: In this paper , the author enumerates cardiac defects with a functionally single ventricle , summarizes single ventricle physiology , presents a summary of management strategies to address the single ventricle defects , goes over the steps of staged total cavo - pulmonary connection , cites the prevalence of inter - stage mortality , names the causes of inter - stage mortality , discusses strategies to address the inter - stage mortality , reviews post - Fontan issues , and introduces alternative approaches to Fontan circulation .