Postoperative complications from alcohol use disorder in an adult congenital heart disease patient: a case report emphasizing the role of high-complexity congenital centers

Abstract Background Superior sinus venous atrial septal defect (SVASD) associated with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital heart disease that is predominantly diagnosed and surgically treated in childhood; however, sometimes the diagnosis is delayed and requires intervention in adulthood. Case presentation A 69-year-old patient presented to the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) clinic due to shortness of breath and recurrent syncopal episodes and was found to have significant right ventricular enlargement by echocardiogram of undetermined cause. Cardiac CT detected a large SVASD with PAPVR that required surgical intervention. The postoperative course was complicated by delirium tremens. Conclusions ACHD patients often have many comorbidities that are not commonly seen in the pediatric population. Because of this, it is of utmost importance that pediatric surgical centers offering procedures for ACHD patients have established protocols to manage these comorbidities postoperatively, including substance withdrawal symptoms.