Simple Adult 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 S, Bowater, S. Adult congenital heart disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 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(22):2264-72, 2010). There are currently more adults than children living with CHD in the United States. Therefore, familiarity with CHD is essential for both inpatient and outpatient adult providers, and this chapter will provide an overview of simple adult CHD. 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.