Commonly Encountered Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common clinically significant congenital defect, occurring in approximately 1 in 100 live births (Thorne et al., Adult Congenital Heart Disease, 2017). With modern advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, over 90% of children born in the developed world with CHD will now survive into adulthood (Moons et al., Circulation 122:2264–2272, 2010). There are currently more adults than children living with CHD in the United States. Therefore, familiarity with CHD is essential, and this chapter will provide an overview of commonly encountered CHD in hospitalized adults. First, we will specifically discuss the three most common congenital cardiac conditions—the atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, and ventricular septal defect. Next, we will review tetralogy of Fallot, the most common cyanotic heart defect. We will then conclude with a discussion of the general principles of the care of the patient with cyanotic CHD.