title: Management of emergencies in adults with congenital cardiac disease.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the quantity and nature of emergencies affecting adults with congenital cardiac disease (CCD) and evaluate infrastructural requirements for adequate management. There is an increasing number of adults with CCD requiring specialized complex care. This multicenter study evaluated all emergency admissions to 1 of 5 centers for adults with CCD within 1 year. Within 1 year, there were 1,033 admissions of adults with CCD, and 201 (160 patients; age 16 to 71 years) were emergencies. Underlying cardiac anomalies were univentricular heart (22%), complete transposition (14%), tetralogy of Fallot (21%), and others (43%). Seventy percent of patients had undergone previous cardiac surgery. The main reason for acute admission was cardiovascular (arrhythmia, heart failure, syncope, aortic dissection, and endocarditis). Diagnostic procedures most often assigned were echocardiography (n = 223), chest x-ray (n = 95), Holter electrocardiography (n = 85), cardiac catheterization/electrophysiologic study (n = 39), and others (n = 143). Forty-six patients underwent surgery (cardiovascular n = 41, general n = 5) or electrophysiologic treatment (n = 41). One hundred twenty-six of 201 emergencies (63%) required cooperation with another specialized department: surgery (n = 46), internal medicine (n = 42), neurology (n = 12), ophthalmology (n = 6), otorhinolaryngology (n = 5), gynecology (n = 5), psychiatry (n = 4), radiology (n = 3), dermatology (n = 2), and orthopedics (n = 2). In conclusion, physicians and consultants attending adult patients with CCD need a high degree of specialized experience concerning the cardiac anomaly to manage emergencies properly. Furthermore, a wide range of noncardiac diagnostic and therapeutic procedures must be available. Data support the demand for a multidisciplinary approach in specialized centers for adequate care of adults with CCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, München, Germany. kaemmerer@dhm.mhn.de
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaemmerer
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pensl
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oechslin
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gravenhorst
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balling
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eicken
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies