Adult congenital heart disease outpatient clinic. descriptive analysis of a 12-year experience in Brazil

Abstract Objective: Description of adult congenital heart disease (CHD) outpatient characteristics has not been reported and several aspects regarding these patients require attention. We describe the 12-year experience of a Brazilian unit. Methods: The main characteristics of 1168 patients were reviewed annotating for each patient age, gender, city of residence, main diagnosis, functional class at last examination, defect complexity and in-hospital referral pattern. Results: Increasing workload was documented. Among the CHD patients, 663 (57%) were between 14 and 30 years old and 920 (79%) lived in the referral region. Referrals were made by hospital cardiologists for 611 (52%) patients, while 519 (45%) were referred by pediatric cardiologists. Regarding CHD severity, 637 (55%) had a defect of mild complexity. Of the patients analyzed, 616 (53%) had undergone an intervention, mainly atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, correction of tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure and relief of coarctation of the aorta (CoAo). The main diagnosis of the 552 (47%) patients not submitted to an intervention were ASD, VSD, aortic stenosis, complex CHD and pulmonary stenosis. Regarding functional class, 1016 (87%) were in class I and 280 (24%) were lost to follow-up. Seventy-three patients had died, mainly due to cardiac death. Conclusion: In a unit were complex pediatric congenital heart surgery started twenty years ago, an increasing adult CHD workload was documented. Referral came predominantly from cities around the unit, most patients had low complexity defects and were in functional class I, a significant loss of follow-up was documented, and the death of patients was mainly due to the heart defect.

Adult congenital heart disease: experience with the surgical approach / Cardiopatia congênita no adulto: experiência com a abordagem cirúrgica

OBJECTIVE: To report the institution experience with the surgical treatment of adults with congenital heart disease due to the increasing number of these patients and the need for a better discussion of the subject. METHODS: Retrospective analysis describing demographic data, risk factors and results. RESULTS: 191 patients between 16 and 74 years old were operated on. Primary correction was done in 171 cases, 93 (55%) for atrial septal defect repair. Among 20 (12%) reoperations, pulmonary valve replacement was done in six cases. The mean intensive care and hospital stay were 2.7 and 8.5 days respectively, significantly greater for the reoperated cases (P=0.001). The mean bypass and clamping times were 68.6 and 44.7 minutes respectively, greater for the reoperated cases (P<0.0001 and P=0.0003 respectively). Hospital mortality was 4.2% and male sex, functional class III-IV and older age at operation were predictive risk factors. Significant complications were more frequent in the reoperated cases (P<0.003), mainly atrial flutter and fibrillation. Among 183 patients discharged, 149 (82%) are being followed and atrial flutter and fibrillation are common. The mean functional class value improved significantly after operation (1.66 to 1.11; P<0.0001). The estimated survival was 96.2% in six years. CONCLUSION: Heart surgery in adults with congenital heart disease can be accomplished with low mortality and functional class improvement. Immediate and late complications are frequent. Multicenter studies are important to better characterize this patient population in the country.

OBJETIVO: Relatar a experiência da instituição com o tratamento cirúrgico de adultos com cardiopatia congênita devido ao crescente aumento no número desses pacientes e consequentes necessidades de maior discussão do tema. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva dos pacientes operados, com análise de dados demográficos, fatores de risco e resultados. RESULTADOS: Cento e noventa e um pacientes, com idade entre 16 e 74 anos, foram operados. Cirurgia primária foi realizada em 171 pacientes, 93 (55%) com comunicação interatrial. Dentre 20 (12%) reoperações, substituição de valva pulmonar ocorreu em seis casos. Os tempos médios de unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar foram 2,7 e 8,5 dias, respectivamente, maiores nas reoperações (P=0,001). Os tempos médios de circulação extracorpórea e pinçamento aórtico foram 68,6 e 44,7 minutos, respectivamente, maiores nas reoperações (P<0,0001 e P=0,0003, respectivamente). Mortalidade hospitalar foi 4,2%, sem relação com reoperação. Sexo masculino, classe funcional III-IV e idade avançada foram fatores preditivos de risco. Complicações importantes foram mais frequentes nas reoperações (P<0,003), principalmente fibrilação e flutter atrial. Entre 183 pacientes com alta hospitalar, 149 (82%) foram seguidos e a fibrilação e flutter atrial foram bastante prevalentes. O valor médio da classe funcional mudou significativamente após a cirurgia (1,66 para 1,11; P<0,0001). A estimativa de sobrevida geral foi de 96,2% em seis anos. CONCLUSÃO: Cirurgia em adultos com cardiopatia congênita pode ser realizada com baixa mortalidade e melhora funcional na maioria dos pacientes. Complicações imediatas e tardias são frequentes. Estudos multicêntricos são importantes para melhor caracterização dessa população de indivíduos no país.

Cardiopatia congênita no adulto: perfil clínico ambulatorial no Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto / Congenital heart disease in adults: outpatient clinic profile at the Hospital das Clínicas of Ribeirão Preto

FUNDAMENTO: Experiências de serviços em adultos com cardiopatias congênitas não têm sido relatadas no nosso meio. OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil clínico básico de adultos com cardiopatias congênitas atendidos ambulatorialmente em centro terciário. MÉTODOS: Anotaram-se dados referentes a idade, sexo, procedência, diagnóstico principal e diagnósticos secundários de 413 pacientes atendidos durante sete anos. RESULTADOS: G1 (não tratados): 195 pacientes, 51 por cento mulheres, 57 por cento entre 14 e 30 anos, 80 por cento residentes na região. As cardiopatias mais frequentes foram comunicação interventricular (CIV) (31 por cento), comunicação interatrial (CIA) (29 por cento) e estenose pulmonar (7 por cento). Os diagnósticos secundários predominantes foram hipertensão arterial (9 por cento) e arritmias (5 por cento). G2 (tratados): 218 pacientes, 56 por cento mulheres, 57 por cento entre 14 e 30 anos, 81 por cento residentes na região. As cardiopatias mais frequentemente tratadas foram CIA (36 por cento), tetralogia de Fallot (14 por cento), coarctação da aorta (12 por cento) e CIV (11 por cento). Sessenta e nove (32 por cento) pacientes foram operados na idade adulta. Dezesseis (7 por cento) foram submetidos a um cateterismo intervencionista. Os diagnósticos secundários predominantes foram hipertensão arterial (18 por cento) e arritmias (8 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Na casuística, predominaram pacientes tratados invasivamente, residentes na região e a maioria com idade abaixo de 40 anos. Defeitos como CIA, CIV e estenose pulmonar predominaram no grupo não tratado, ao passo que, nos tratados, a maioria tinha sido submetida à correção de CIA, tetralogia de Fallot, coarctação da aorta e CIV. Hipertensão arterial e arritmias foram relevantes em ambos os grupos, sendo também registrada grande diversidade de outras comorbidades.

BACKGROUND: Service experiences for adults with congenital heart disease have not been reported in our country. OBJECTIVE: To describe the basic clinical profile of adults with congenital heart disease in an outpatient tertiary care center. METHODS: We compiled data on age, gender, place of residence, primary diagnosis, and secondary diagnoses of 413 patients treated for seven years. RESULTS: G1 (untreated): 195 patients, 51 percent women, 57 percent between 14 and 30 years, 80 percent living in the region. The most frequent heart diseases were ventricular septal defect (VSD) (31 percent), atrial septal defect (ASD) (29 percent), and pulmonary stenosis (7 percent). The predominant secondary diagnoses were hypertension (9 percent) and arrhythmias (5 percent). G2 (treated): 218 patients, 56 percent women, 57 percent between 14 and 30 years, 81 percent living in the region. The most frequently treated heart diseases were: ASD (36 percent), tetralogy of Fallot (14 percent), coarctation of the aorta (12 percent), and VSD (11 percent). Sixty-nine (32 percent) patients were operated on for congenital heart diseases in adulthood. Sixteen (7 percent) underwent an interventional catheterization. The predominant secondary diagnoses were hypertension (18 percent) and arrhythmias (8 percent). CONCLUSION: In the study, most patients were treated invasively, all of them were residents in the region, and most of them were under 40 years of age. Defects such as ASD, VSD, and pulmonary stenosis predominated in the untreated group, whereas in the treated group, most patients had undergone surgical correction of ASD, tetralogy of Fallot, aortic coarctation, and VSD. Hypertension and arrhythmias were relevant in both groups, and a large variety of other comorbidities were also observed.