Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Recommendations for starting a grown up congenital heart disease (GUCH) unit
Fernando Tadeu Vasconcelos Amaral1, Paulo Henrique Manso1, André Schmidt1
1Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
Insights
Advances in congenital heart disease (CHD) care allow adults to survive, requiring specialized multidisciplinary facilities. This review outlines essential structural and operational components for optimal adult CHD patient management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Care
Background:
- Significant advancements in diagnosis and treatment have increased the number of individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving into adulthood.
- Adult patients with CHD present unique challenges due to diagnostic diversity and common co-morbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the essential structural and organizational requirements for multidisciplinary facilities caring for adults with congenital heart disease.
- To provide guidance on establishing and maintaining adequate care models for this growing patient population.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of international studies.
- Incorporation of authors' clinical experience in adult congenital heart disease management.
Main Results:
- Highlights the need for specialized facility characteristics and clear patient transfer criteria from pediatric settings.
- Emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teams, robust outpatient and in-hospital assistance models, data storage, institutional support, and professional training.
- Underscores the necessity of clinical research, particularly multicenter studies, for this heterogeneous group.
Conclusions:
- Adequate attention for adult congenital heart disease patients necessitates specialized multidisciplinary facilities.
- Effective management requires careful consideration of facility structure, staffing, care models, data management, institutional backing, training, and research.
Abstract:
During the last decades, advances in diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease have allowed many individuals to reach adulthood. Due mainly to the great diagnostic diversity and to the co-morbidities usually present in this age group, these patients demand assistance in a multidisciplinary facility if an adequate attention is aimed. In this paper we reviewed, based in the international literature and also on the authors' experience, the structural conditions that should be available for these patients. We highlighted aspects like the facility characteristics, the criteria usually adopted for patient transfer from the paediatric setting, the composition of the medical and para- medical staff taking into account the specific problems, and also the model of outpatient and in-hospital assistance. We also emphasized the importance of patient data storage, the fundamental necessity of institutional support and also the compromise to offer professional training. The crucial relevance of clinical research is also approached, particularly the development of multicenter studies as an appropriate methodology for this heterogeneous patient population.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
01:20Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management