BACKGROUND: More than 90% of children with congenital heart defects now survive into adulthood; just a few decades ago, survival was rare, particularly among patients with complex defects. The new population of adults with congenital heart disease presents a special challenge to physicians from all of the involved specialties. METHODS: Selective literature review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A complete cure of the congenital heart defect in childhood is exceptional, and most adult patients continue to suffer from residual problems and sequelae. Further surgery or catheter interventions may be needed. Potential late complications include arrhythmias, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, and thromboembolic events. The management of these patients during pregnancy or non-cardiac surgery remains a challenge. If this evolving patient population is to receive the best possible care, the adequate provision of specialized medical services is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition: patients and their referring physicians will also need to be aware that these services are available, and then actually make use of them. Moreover, optimal communication among all of the involved physicians is essential.
BACKGROUND: More than 90% of children with congenital heart defects now survive into adulthood; just a few decades ago, survival was rare, particularly among patients with complex defects. The new population of adults with congenital heart disease presents a special challenge to physicians from all of the involved specialties. METHODS: Selective literature review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A complete cure of the congenital heart defect in childhood is exceptional, and most adult patients continue to suffer from residual problems and sequelae. Further surgery or catheter interventions may be needed. Potential late complications include arrhythmias, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, and thromboembolic events. The management of these patients during pregnancy or non-cardiac surgery remains a challenge. If this evolving patient population is to receive the best possible care, the adequate provision of specialized medical services is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition: patients and their referring physicians will also need to be aware that these services are available, and then actually make use of them. Moreover, optimal communication among all of the involved physicians is essential.
Authors: S C Siu; M Sermer; J M Colman; A N Alvarez; L A Mercier; B C Morton; C M Kells; M L Bergin; M C Kiess; F Marcotte; D A Taylor; E P Gordon; J C Spears; J W Tam; K S Amankwah; J F Smallhorn; D Farine; S Sorensen Journal: Circulation Date: 2001-07-31 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Sabine Bleiziffer; Christian Schreiber; Rainer Burgkart; Felix Regenfelder; Martin Kostolny; Paul Libera; Klaus Holper; Rüdiger Lange Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: Helmut Baumgartner; Philipp Bonhoeffer; Natasja M S De Groot; Fokko de Haan; John Erik Deanfield; Nazzareno Galie; Michael A Gatzoulis; Christa Gohlke-Baerwolf; Harald Kaemmerer; Philip Kilner; Folkert Meijboom; Barbara J M Mulder; Erwin Oechslin; Jose M Oliver; Alain Serraf; Andras Szatmari; Erik Thaulow; Pascal R Vouhe; Edmond Walma Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2010-08-27 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: Samuel C Siu; Jack M Colman; Sheryll Sorensen; Jeffrey F Smallhorn; Dan Farine; Kofi S Amankwah; John C Spears; Mathew Sermer Journal: Circulation Date: 2002-05-07 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Anselm Uebing; Michael A Gatzoulis; Constantin von Kaisenberg; Hans-Heiner Kramer; Alexander Strauss Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2008-05-09 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Gilbert Habib; Bruno Hoen; Pilar Tornos; Franck Thuny; Bernard Prendergast; Isidre Vilacosta; Philippe Moreillon; Manuel de Jesus Antunes; Ulf Thilen; John Lekakis; Maria Lengyel; Ludwig Müller; Christoph K Naber; Petros Nihoyannopoulos; Anton Moritz; Jose Luis Zamorano Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2009-08-27 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: Franziska Schlegel; Aida Salameh; Katja Oelmann; Michelle Halling; Stefan Dhein; Friedrich W Mohr; Pascal M Dohmen Journal: Med Sci Monit Basic Res Date: 2015-06-24
Authors: Paul C Helm; Harald Kaemmerer; Günter Breithardt; Elisabeth J Sticker; Roland Keuchen; Rhoia Neidenbach; Gerhard-Paul Diller; Oktay Tutarel; Ulrike M M Bauer Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2017-05-19 Impact factor: 3.418