TY - JOUR
T1 - The care of adult patients with congenital heart defects
T2 - A new challenge
AU - Chessa, Massimo
AU - Cullen, Seamus
AU - Deanfield, John
AU - Frigiola, Alessandra
AU - Negura, Diana Gabriela
AU - Butera, Gianfranco
AU - Giamberti, Alessandro
AU - Bossone, Eduardo
AU - Carminati, Mario
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - The aim of the present article was to point out some of the more common challenges and needs for adult patients with congenital heart defects. We may reasonably calculate a population approximating 80 000 to 100 000 patients in Italy. The profile of this patient population will change over the next few decades. Not all congenital heart defects require the same level of expertise; for this reason an integrated national service is required. Ideally, specialist units should be established in appropriate geographic areas; complex patients need to be grouped according to the expertise, experience and management they require. Less specialized regional centers and outpatient clinics in interconnected districts with GUCH units should be created. Specialist units should accept responsibility for educating the profession, training the specialists, and sharing particular skills between each other. The debate on this subject is far from over; we wish to contribute to and stimulate the discussion.
AB - The aim of the present article was to point out some of the more common challenges and needs for adult patients with congenital heart defects. We may reasonably calculate a population approximating 80 000 to 100 000 patients in Italy. The profile of this patient population will change over the next few decades. Not all congenital heart defects require the same level of expertise; for this reason an integrated national service is required. Ideally, specialist units should be established in appropriate geographic areas; complex patients need to be grouped according to the expertise, experience and management they require. Less specialized regional centers and outpatient clinics in interconnected districts with GUCH units should be created. Specialist units should accept responsibility for educating the profession, training the specialists, and sharing particular skills between each other. The debate on this subject is far from over; we wish to contribute to and stimulate the discussion.
KW - Congenital heart disease
KW - National Health Service
KW - Prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4644228649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=4644228649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 15119499
AN - SCOPUS:4644228649
VL - 5
SP - 178
EP - 182
JO - Italian Heart Journal
JF - Italian Heart Journal
SN - 1129-471X
IS - 3
ER -