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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
07:27

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease

Published on: July 18, 2014

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Critical Care of the Adult With Congenital Heart Disease

Christopher W Valle1, Amanda C Garfinkel2, Jonathan Buber3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

JACC. Advances
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) require specialized intensive care unit (ICU) due to complex conditions. This review highlights epidemiology, management, and future research for critical care of adults with CHD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

  • Improved survival in congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to a growing adult population.
  • Adults with CHD face complex cardiac and noncardiac conditions, increasing ICU admissions.
  • Specialized critical care is essential due to unique pathophysiology and multi-organ dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of critical care for adults with CHD.
  • To describe physiological and management considerations for complex CHD cases (e.g., Fontan, single ventricle, Eisenmenger syndrome).
  • To identify risk factors for adverse outcomes and define future research and education priorities.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review summarizing current knowledge on critical care for adults with CHD.
  • Focus on complex CHD physiology and management strategies.
  • Analysis of risk factors and identification of knowledge gaps.

Main Results:

  • Adults with CHD represent a growing ICU population with unique critical care needs.
  • Specific conditions like Fontan circulation, systemic right ventricle, and Eisenmenger syndrome require tailored management.
  • Cardiac and noncardiac comorbidities significantly impact outcomes in the ICU.

Conclusions:

  • The critical care needs of adults with CHD are increasing and require specialized approaches.
  • Further research and education are crucial to optimize outcomes for this vulnerable population.
  • Multidisciplinary care is essential for managing complex adult congenital heart disease in the ICU.

Keywords:
ACHDFontancongenital heart diseasecritical caresurgical outcomes

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