Cardiovascular Anesthesia
Online ISSN : 1884-7439
Print ISSN : 1342-9132
ISSN-L : 1342-9132
Current Features and future Prospective in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Koichiro Niwa
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2014 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 1-8

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Abstract
 Because of major advances in surgical and medical management, ever-increasing numbers of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adulthood. With few exceptions, however, reparative surgery is not radical, and is left its specific residua and sequelae that require life long surveillance. There are complexities such as heart failure, arrhythmias, sudden death, reoperation, cardiac intervention and ablation inherent in the comprehensive care. Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients can have non-cardiac issues such as pregnancy and delivery and non-cardiac surgery, hepatitis, and also have psychosocial issues such as depression, cognitive abnormalities, insurance and so on, therefore, proper follow-up and management of them are mandatory.
 Regarding caregiver for adult with CHD, transition from pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons to ACHD specialists and/or cardiologists those are well trained in the field of adults with CHD, is necessary. Provision of comprehensive care by multidisciplinary teams including adult and pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons was the fundamental feature in care facilities for adults with CHD. Also anesthesiologists have a major role on taking care of ACHD patients during cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. Training and education should be focused on the adult CHD fellows who represent the next generation of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeon that will assume responsibility for this patient population. In this paper, I tried to clarify the current situation in adult CHD services and discuss the future role of pediatric and adult cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and anesthesiologists for caring patients in this evolving field.
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© 2014 Japanese Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists
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