Establishment of a Healthcare System for Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease in Collaboration With Children’s Hospital　― The Nagano Model ―

BACKGROUND: Despite the best efforts of pediatricians, healthcare for adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) has proven challenging because of the increased numbers. This study presents the process of establishing an ACHD care system as a collaborative effort between Shinshu University Hospital and Nagano Children's Hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Establishing an outpatient clinic for transition, a cooperation agreement for in-patient care between the 2 hospitals, and quality management of diagnostic imaging and educational meetings for adult cardiologists were the 3 major challenges. Of the 99 patients who visited the transition clinic in the children's hospital between May 2014 and December 2016, 3 returned to the pediatrician's clinic. Between June 2013 and December 2017, 273 patients visited the ACHD center in Shinshu University Hospital. Until December 2017, mortality and fatal arrhythmia were noted in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Catheter ablation for arrhythmia was performed in 12 cases, and 4 cases of pregnancy with moderate/severe ACHD or estimated as high risk were managed with healthy livebirths. Surgical interventions for moderate/severe ACHD were performed in collaboration with the children's hospital or Sakakibara Heart Institute. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were successfully transferred to adult cardiology departments. Surgical and nonsurgical interventions for ACHD were provided. Collaboration between adult and pediatric cardiologists assists in the establishment of healthcare systems for ACHD.