Management of adults with congenital heart disease with cardiovascular computed tomography

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in the care of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). A retrospective analysis of adult patients with CHD who underwent cardiac CT from April 2005 to May 2006 was performed. Data collected included diagnosis, presence or absence of cardiac symptoms, presence or absence of a pacemaker or defibrillator, anatomic and functional abnormalities, and the need for subsequent surgical or transcatheter intervention based on cardiac CT findings. Eighty-seven adult patients with CHD underwent cardiac CT during this period. Fifty-four subjects had cardiac CT findings that warranted possible transcatheter or surgical interventions or both. Of these, 30 patients went on to transcatheter or surgical intervention based on cardiac CT results. Twenty (37%) subjects of the study population had either pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Cardiac CT provides important volumetric imaging information to guide management in adult patients with CHD.