Publications by authors named "Sarah E Bowater"
Aims: Evidence for CRT in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) and chronic heart failure is limited, with recommendations for its use extrapolated from the population with structurally normal hearts. This retrospective observational study investigates the efficacy of CRT in this heterogenous group, discussing factors predicting response to CRT.
Methods: Twenty-seven patients with structural ACHD who underwent CRT insertion or upgrade at a tertiary center in the United Kingdom were retrospectively studied.
Article Synopsis
- The Fontan circulation is a condition in patients with single systemic ventricles that results in high pulmonary vascular resistance, often requiring pharmacological treatments when standard heart failure therapies fail.
- A 50-year-old female with complex heart conditions was treated with macitentan, an endothelin-receptor antagonist, after previous medications did not alleviate her worsening symptoms.
- The patient experienced significant improvement in her symptoms and exercise capacity, suggesting the potential for using macitentan and other endothelin-receptor antagonists more broadly in Fontan circulation management, warranting further research.
End-of-life care in adults with congenital heart disease: now is the time to act.
Curr Opin Support Palliat Care
March 2013
Purpose Of Review: There are increasing numbers of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and these patients remain at long-term risk of complications and premature death. This review focuses on the changing picture of adult CHD with more complex patients surviving, the challenges of balancing life-prolonging intervention, the barriers to discussing the end-of-life (EOL) issues and draws on the experience of other specialities in managing young patients.
Recent Findings: The prevalence of adults with the most severe forms of CHD has increased, especially those with a Fontan circulation.
Introduction: The right ventricle (RV) supports the systemic circulation in patients who have had an intraatrial repair of transposition of the great arteries or have congenitally corrected transposition. There is concern about the ability of a systemic RV to support the additional volume load of pregnancy, and previous studies have reported deterioration in RV function following pregnancy. However, conditions with a systemic RV are also associated with progressive RV dysfunction over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe safety and effects of bosentan in patients with a Fontan circulation.
Congenit Heart Dis
September 2012
Objective: Adult patients with a Fontan circulation tend to have diminished exercise capacity. The principal objective of this study was to investigate the safety of the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan in Fontan patients, and, secondarily, to assess effects on cardiovascular performance, New York Heart Association functional classification (NYHA FC), and ventricular function.
Design: A 6-month prospective, single-center, pilot, safety study of bosentan in Fontan patients.