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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Surgical outcome for congenital heart malformations in the adult age: a multicentric European study
G Stellin1, V L Vida, M A Padalino
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy.
Insights
Adults with congenital heart disease can safely undergo cardiac surgery. This beneficial treatment improves patient outcomes and modifies disease progression, offering a low-risk option for this growing population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are typically managed in pediatric patients.
- A significant number of individuals with CHDs require ongoing medical and surgical care into adulthood.
- This necessitates specialized evaluation of surgical interventions for adult CHD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact and outcomes of cardiac surgery in adult patients with congenital heart disease.
- To evaluate the safety, benefits, and risks associated with surgical treatment in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 1,247 adult patients who underwent 1,287 cardiac operations over a 5-year period (1997-2001).
- Patients categorized into three groups: palliative procedures, repair (including Fontan-type and one and a half ventricle repairs), and reoperations.
- Hospital mortality and Kaplan-Meier survival rates were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overall hospital mortality within 30 days was 2.4%, with significant variation between centers (0% to 15.3%).
- Four-year survival estimated at 94% via Kaplan-Meier analysis.
- Survival rates were highest for repair (95%), followed by reoperations (92%) and palliations (88%).
Conclusions:
- Cardiac surgery for adults with congenital heart disease is a safe and beneficial treatment modality.
- Surgical intervention positively impacts the natural history of adult congenital heart disease.
- The procedure offers low-risk benefits, improving the clinical status of affected patients.
Abstract:
Congenital heart diseases are currently treated in the pediatric age. However, a conspicuous number of patients requires treatment in the adult age. This study has been undertaken by members of the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association with the aim of evaluating the impact of cardiac surgery in this particular age group. We have collected data from 1,247 patients who underwent 1,287 operations during a 5-year period between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) palliative procedures (4.4%), operation performed to improve patients' clinical status without restoring normal anatomy or physiology; (2) repair (79.3%), operation performed to achieve an anatomic or physiologic repair with separation of the pulmonary from the systemic circulation (included in this group are also Fontan-type repair and one and a half ventricle repair); (3) reoperation (16.3%), all the reoperations performed after repair (either anatomic or physiologic). Hospital mortality (within 30 days) was 2.4% (range, 0% to 15.3% in different centers). Kaplan-Meier estimates shows a 94% survival at 4 years, which is higher for repair (95%) as compared with reoperations (92%) or palliations (88%). Surgery for congenital heart disease in the adult age is a safe, beneficial, and low-risk treatment that modifies patients' natural history by improving their clinical status.
