Adult congenital heart disease

The population of adults with congenital heart disease is large and growing. This group has a high rate of health resource utilization, including hospital admissions. It is predicted that this will only continue to grow as more individuals with moderate and complex congenital heart disease age into middle and late adulthood. Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit require coordinated, multidisciplinary care, ideally from a care team with experience in congenital heart disease. ACHD patients have a distinct set of hemodynamic, physiologic, and social needs that should be considered in their ongoing care. In addition to their high risk of cardiac complications, such as heart failure and arrhythmia, they are also at increased risk of noncardiac complications, such as liver and kidney disease. This chapter summarizes the unique challenges faced by providers caring for this population and offers recommendations for treatment based on the currently available data.