With an ever-increasing number of patients with congenital heart disease living into adulthood, understanding how to effectively manage and triage these patients is critical. With this in mind, today’s Intensive Session — A General Cardiologist’s Real-World Approach to Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) — offers a deep-dive into the basics of care and provides unique insights into how best to approach ACHD patient care.

ACHD patients access medical care more frequently and have significant cardiac morbidity and mortality compared with others their age. The Intensive is designed for attendees to engage with global experts on key topics related to these challenges including: practical diagnostics and hemodynamics; effects of exercise, catheterization (cath) lab diagnostics and therapeutics; and heart failure management and electrophysiologic issues.

“Our goal is that attendees will feel more comfortable with the subtleties of anatomic assessment of atrial level defects, both on imaging and with cardiac catheterization,” says Keri M. Shafer, MD, FACC, co-chair of the Intensive.

The first of two sessions in the Intensive will focus on shunt lesions and the utility of the cath lab, starting with presentations by co-chairs Michael J. Landzberg, MD, FACC, and Shafer on “A (Practical) How-To Approach: Atrial Septal Defects.”

"Cardiologists and other cardiology professionals should come to this session to gain an experiential and concrete understanding of ACHD. The sessions are designed to help attendees walk away with immediately applicable, real-world knowledge they can apply to their practices." — Keri M. Shafer, MD, FACC

“We will start with an interactive session where participants will see the application of the fundamental concepts for atrial septal defect management as we walk through a clinical case,” says Shafer. She also noted the session will be supplemented with short videos and lectures that highlight critical aspects of management, including imaging and hemodynamic assessments. Additionally, attendees can take part in hands-on anatomic learning organized by Stephen Sanders, MD.

“The interactive components of these sessions are built on the latest research in adult education,” notes Shafer. The session will wrap up with a review of key concepts to provide attendees with a practical and stepwise approach to their next patient with an atrial septal defect.

The second session will focus on patients with more complex anatomies and the management of patients with ACHD and heart failure. It will include hands-on anatomic teaching, with live and digital walks through complex anatomies so attendees can experience ACHD. A presentation by Frank Cecchin, MD, will focus on “Indications for EP Studies and ICDs in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.” Sanders will lead participants through “Hands-On 3D and Digital Congenital Heart Disease Models.”

Following the second session attendees will take part in a field trip to the congenital heart disease moderated Poster Theater to learn about the latest research on ACHD.

“Cardiologists and other cardiology professionals should come to this session to gain an experiential and concrete understanding of ACHD. The sessions are designed to help attendees walk away with immediately applicable, real-world knowledge they can apply to their practices,” says Shafer. “Don’t miss this opportunity to kick start your approach to patients with ACHD!”

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A General Cardiologist’s Real-World Approach to Adult Congenital Heart Disease Intensive will take place today from 12:30 – 4:45 p.m. in Room 209 B.

Keywords: ACC Publications, ACC Scientific Session Newspaper, ACC Annual Scientific Session

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