Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart defects develop before birth and can affect the way blood flows into your heart.

It’s possible to have congenital heart disease without experiencing any problems. That’s why it often isn’t even diagnosed until adulthood. However, complex congenital heart disease can be life-threatening.

Whatever your condition, and whenever you received your diagnosis, our team is here to help you maintain a healthy, fulfilling life.

While some congenital heart defects are genetic, there isn’t a clear cause. Researchers continue to study congenital heart disease to understand its cause and how to prevent it. Our team will work with you to understand your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that best meets your needs.

Many risk factors increase the likelihood a baby will develop a congenital heart defect, including:

• Alcohol use during pregnancy
• Contracting German measles (rubella) during pregnancy
• Genetics
• The mother having type 1 or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy
• Smoking during pregnancy
• Taking certain medications during pregnancy (lithium and isotretinoin, for example)

Many types of congenital heart disease exist, including those that don’t cause any symptoms and complex congenital heart disease cases that require ongoing management. The most common types are:

• Atrial and ventricular septal defects
• Cyanotic congenital heart defects
• Congenital valve defects
• Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)
• Ductal dependent congenital heart disease
• Ebstein anomaly
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Patent foramen ovale
• Pulmonary artery stenosis
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
• Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)

A congenital heart disease diagnosis typically happens during an anatomy ultrasound at the 20-week gestation or at birth. However, it’s quite common that patients aren’t diagnosed until symptoms appear in adulthood.

If you begin experiencing troubling symptoms, such as shortness of breath, trouble exercising or unexplained weight loss, your doctor may order diagnostic tests to evaluate your heart's function. These tests may include:

• Cardiac catheterization
• Chest X-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
• Transesophageal echocardiogram

Today, there are many effective congenital heart disease treatments. Your cardiologist will work closely with you to understand your medical history, symptoms and, most importantly, your goals. Together, you’ll create a plan that’s right for you.

Depending on your needs, our congenital heart disease treatment may include:

• Aorta repair or replacement
• Aortic valve surgery
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart bypass surgery
• Hypoplastic left heart repair surgery
• Mitral valve surgery
• TAVR minimally invasive aortic valve replacement
• Tetralogy of Fallot surgery
• Transposition of great arteries
• Tricuspid valve surgery
• Ventricular septal defect repair

We have relationships with cardiac surgeons across the state, including teams experienced in heart transplant. Whichever care is best for you, we’ll deliver the support and expertise you deserve.