Comprehensive approach to adult congenital heart disease

Abstract

In the United States, there are approximately 1 million adults with congenital heart disease, with 20,000 new patients reaching adolescence each year. With early pediatric diagnosis, improved medical, surgical and post operative care, it is now expected that 90% of patients born with congenital heart disease (CHD) will survive to adulthood. Therefore, the number of adult CHD (ACHD) patients will continue to rise. In fact, it is now estimated that for the first time in history, there are more adults living with CHD than children. The cardiologist who deals with these patients must therefore be familiar with congenital heart lesions in their uncomplicated state and know appropriate testing and follow-up methods. Also the inherent complexity of this type of cardiovascular disease really needs a comprehensive, multimedia included, practical and case base approach and assessment. The aim of this book is to provide a case base approach to adult patients with congenital heart disease including all diagnostic and treatment methods focus on physical exam, ECG, chest X-Ray, heart sounds, advanced echocardiography including of TTE & TEE, cardiac CT, CMR, catheterization, interventional procedures, surgery and also anesthesia highlights in these patients.