A case-based report on adult congenital heart disease among veterans

In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications volume 4, issue 1, pp. 71-75(5); DOI https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2017.0076, Robert F. Hamburger, DO, MPH, FACC, from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA and Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA considers adult congenital heart disease in the veteran population.

Simple forms of congenital heart disease can allow patients to go undiagnosed until they reach adulthood. Furthermore, improvements in care of patients with complex congenital heart disease are now allowing most patients to reach adulthood. As some patients with adult congenital heart disease can remain asymptomatic until later in life, it is possible for them to serve in the military and eventually fall under the care of Veterans Administration (VA) providers. Therefore it is important for providers, especially cardiologists at VA centers, to have fundamental understanding of the management of adult congenital heart disease. This article provides multiple cases of adult congenital heart disease experienced at a single VA medical center and reviews the anatomy, physiology, and surgical management of each condition.