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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Congenital heart disease in the adult: 2004
1Department of Radiology, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. mbaron@emory.edu
Insights
Advances in congenital heart disease treatment mean more adults need lifelong care. Radiologists must understand these conditions and their post-operative imaging to aid in routine medical observation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) survival rates have improved significantly due to medical and surgical advancements.
- This leads to a growing population of adult CHD patients requiring ongoing medical care.
- Radiologists frequently encounter these patients, often with incomplete clinical information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the increasing importance of radiologists in the care of adult congenital heart disease patients.
- To emphasize the need for radiologists to be familiar with congenital cardiac anomalies and their imaging manifestations.
- To underscore the necessity of understanding post-operative appearances and potential complications in CHD.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on congenital heart disease prevalence and survival.
- Analysis of radiologist's role in managing patients with congenital heart disease.
- Discussion of common congenital cardiac anomalies and their imaging patterns.
Main Results:
- The majority of infants born with congenital heart disease now survive into adulthood.
- Adult congenital heart disease patients require continuous medical observation.
- Radiologists must interpret chest films and CT scans for these patients, necessitating specialized knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Radiologists play a crucial role in the long-term management of adult congenital heart disease.
- Familiarity with congenital cardiac anomalies, post-operative changes, and complications is essential for accurate interpretation.
- Improved radiologist awareness can enhance patient care and diagnostic accuracy for this growing population.
Abstract:
The number of newborn infants with congenital heart disease is relatively stable.However, because of marked advances in correction and palliation of these conditions,the great majority will survive into adult life, significantly increasing the number of such patients in our population. Most patients with congenital heart disease, treated or not,will require routine, continued medical observation and, therefore, many radiologists will become involved in their care. Not uncommonly, pertinent clinical information is not provided to the radiologist, particularly when the patient presents to an Emergency Room because of intercurrent disease. In order to interpret the chest film or CT examination and provide a pertinent report, the radiologist must be conversant with the patterns of the more common congenital cardiac anomalies as well as their post-operative appearances and potential complications.
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