Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Adult congenital heart disease: a 2008 overview
Elisabeth Bédard1, Darryl F Shore, Michael A Gatzoulis
1Adult Congenital Heart Center and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK.
Insights
Improved care for adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has led to more survivors. This review covers common defects and challenges in managing adult CHD, emphasizing the need for specialized and local follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
Background:
- Healthcare advances have increased the number of adult survivors with congenital heart disease (CHD).
- This growing population presents unique and complex medical needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common congenital heart defects in adults.
- To discuss critical management issues for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).
- To provide essential clinical information for non-specialist physicians.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recently published data on adult CHD (ACHD).
- Synthesis of information on common congenital heart defects and related issues.
Main Results:
- Adults with CHD often require specialized care but also need local follow-up.
- Managing pregnancy, surgery, arrhythmias, and endocarditis in ACHD patients can be challenging.
- General practitioners and specialists must understand ACHD complexities.
Conclusions:
- Physicians not specializing in ACHD need key clinical information.
- Enhanced research and education are crucial for optimizing ACHD patient care.
Introduction:
During the past decades, health care of patients born with congenital heart disease (CHD) has improved substantially, leading to a growing population of adult survivors.
Source Of Data:
Using the recently published and relevant data on adult CHD (ACHD), we reviewed the most common congenital heart defects and discussed important related issues.
Areas Of Agreement:
Adults with CHD most often require specialized medical or surgical care in a tertiary centre. However, this population also need local follow-up; general practitioners and other specialists therefore have to face the complexity of their disease. AREAS OF CONTROVERSIES: Management of pregnancy, non-cardiac surgery, arrhythmias and endocarditis prophylaxis may be challenging in patients with CHD and should be adapted to their condition.
Growing Points:
The present article summarizes key clinical information on ACHD for the benefit of physicians who are not specialized in this field. Areas timely for developing research Research efforts and education strategies are greatly needed in order to optimize the care of patients with ACHD.
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

