Aangeboren hartafwijkingen op volwassen leeftijd

Before the era of cardiac surgery, congenital heart disease was one of the most important causes of infant death. Nowadays mortality is low and survival until adult age is rule rather than exception. Many patients have sequelae or residua after cardiac surgery that may change in clinical significance over the years. It is not uncommon that a re-intervention is indicated. Because of this, almost all patients operated upon in childhood for a congenital cardiac malformation require life-long, specialized medical care. Despite the presence of residual abnormalities and the need for life-long medical care, quality of life of most adult patients with a congenital cardiac malformation is good and comparable with that of the standard Dutch or Belgian population. Because of the sequelae and residua, a possible future re-intervention and an unknown life expectancy, the insurability and employability of patients is often problematic.