Anorexia Nervosa in a Postoperative Patient With Ebstein Anomaly

Abstract Background: Along with the improved life prognosis of patients with congenital heart disease, their diverse complications have come under scrutiny. Due to the various medical restrictions attendant on their upbringing, patients with congenital heart disease often have coexisting mental disorders. However, reports of patients with congenital heart disease and coexisting eating disorders are very rare. In this paper the authors report the case of a patient who developed anorexia nervosa following surgery for Ebstein’s anomaly.Case Presentation: A 21-year-old female with Ebstein’s anomaly who underwent a Fontan surgery was transferred to our institution with suspected anorexia nervosa after a more than 2-year intermittent stay in a medical hospital for decreased appetite. Initially, she did not express a desire to lose weight or a fear of obesity, and we suspected that she was suffering from appetite loss due to a physical condition associated with the Fontan circulation. But gradually the pathology of the eating disorder became apparent.Conclusions: Patients with congenital heart disease are more likely to have a psychological background as well as physical problems that might contribute to eating disorders. Indeed, it is unclear why there are not more cases of eating disorders in association with congenital heart diseases.