Special Considerations for Mechanical Circulatory Support or Device Therapy in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart failure has become the leading cause of mortality in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients after the fifth decade of life. There is scanty evidence supporting the use of guideline-directed medical therapy in ACHD, especially in systemic right ventricle or single ventricle physiology. In complex patients, diagnosing heart failure and timely referral for advanced therapies are challenging. Mechanical circulatory support has been significantly developed over the past decade and has recently emerged as a feasible therapeutic option for these patients. This review summarizes current evidence of mechanical circulatory support in this population, its potential uses, and challenges.

Keywords: Fontan; Heart failure; Mechanical circulatory support; Systemic right ventricle; Ventricular assist device.