title: Recommendations for starting a grown up congenital heart disease (GUCH) unit.
abstract: During the last decades, advances in diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease have allowed many individuals to reach adulthood. Due mainly to the great diagnostic diversity and to the co-morbidities usually present in this age group, these patients demand assistance in a multidisciplinary facility if an adequate attention is aimed. In this paper we reviewed, based in the international literature and also on the authors' experience, the structural conditions that should be available for these patients. We highlighted aspects like the facility characteristics, the criteria usually adopted for patient transfer from the paediatric setting, the composition of the medical and para- medical staff taking into account the specific problems, and also the model of outpatient and in-hospital assistance. We also emphasized the importance of patient data storage, the fundamental necessity of institutional support and also the compromise to offer professional training. The crucial relevance of clinical research is also approached, particularly the development of multicenter studies as an appropriate methodology for this heterogeneous patient population.
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Fernando Tadeu Vasconcelos
authors: FT
authors: Amaral
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Paulo Henrique
authors: PH
authors: Manso
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Schmidt
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Ricardo Nilson
authors: RN
authors: Sgarbieri
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Walter Villela de Andrade
authors: WV
authors: Vicente
authors: Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Clovis
authors: C
authors: Carbone Junior
authors: Imperial College, London, GB.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Somerville
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D001938:Brazil; D002300:Cardiac Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D004501:Education, Medical; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic