Advanced Heart Failure Therapies for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Abstract

In the contemporary era, nearly 85% of children with congenital heart disease will reach adulthood. Despite optimal medical and surgical treatment, many will experience a progressive decline in cardiopulmonary function leading to advanced heart failure. These patients present unique anatomic and physiological challenges to the care team, and unlike adults with acquired heart disease who progress to severe heart failure, advanced treatment options such as mechanical circulatory support and cardiac transplant may be limited. Severe ventricular dysfunction and/or pulmonary hypertension may not be amenable to corrective repair. Heart transplantation with or without mechanical circulatory support may be the only option for highly selected patients. The aim of this review is to describe advanced heart failure therapies for adults with congenital heart disease, including the general approach to evaluation and management, pre- and post-operative care, anticipated short- and long-term outcomes, and future directions for clinical care and research.