| Overview of Adult Congenital Heart Disease |
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Patients Who Were Not Treated In Childhood
There are several reasons why a person with CHD may not receive treatment until adulthood:
> The condition was not previously recognized. Atrial Septal Defect and Coarctation of the Aorta are the most common defects that may escape early diagnosis. Atrial septal defects are the most common defect to be identified in adulthood.
> The patient's condition was considered to be inoperable at the time of diagnosis but advances in the field have changed this situation.
> The patient was unable to obtain treatment in childhood because of the lack of local facilities or because of economic factors.
> The symptoms were not considered to be serious during childhood, but have worsened over time, or pose an increased threat to the patient's health |
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