Actualización en cardiopatías congénitas

Congenital heart diseases are anatomical lesions that affect one or more of the four heart chambers, the septa separating them, or the valves and outflow tracts present at birth. Their exact origin remains unknown, but it is believed to be associated with abnormalities in embryonic development. The global prevalence continues to rise and up to 90% of these patients reach adulthood thanks to advances in the diagnosis and treatment over the past decades. Since most surgical techniques are palliative rather than curative, these patients will face increased mortality, a high reintervention rate, and complications in adulthood. For this reason, patients should be evaluated at least once in their lifetime by a cardiologist who is an expert in adults with congenital heart diseases, who will coordinate further care based on the complexity and progression of each patient's heart disease. In addition to the common complications seen in all patients with congenital heart disease, each condition is characterized by a set of particular characteristics regarding its pathophysiology, clinical findings, and natural history, which will be addressed in the second half of this update.