Congenital Heart Treatment
Our specialists understand how to treat all types of congenital heart defects.
Some congenital heart defects might not cause any problems. Complex defects, however, can cause life-threatening complications.
What is Congenital Heart Disease?
A congenital heart defect is present from birth. This defect effects the structure of the heart or the blood vessels and alters the way blood flows through the heart.
Some congenital heart defects might not cause any problems. Complex defects, however, can cause life-threatening complications. Most people with a congenital heart defect undergo surgery during childhood; however, some may remain asymptomatic during childhood.
The improvements in surgical and medical management of congenital heart defects have led to the survival of patients to adulthood with special medical needs.
If you have congenital heart disease, you likely will need medical management of the condition throughout your life.
Our Care
Our goal is to ensure you receive the care you need, including:
- Ongoing, routine checkups to prevent complications. Many patients grow into adulthood with congenital heart disease. Complications can occur due to the heart adapting over time, including irregular heart rhythms, leaky valves, stroke, obstruction, and even heart failure.
- A specialized plan for your care, including family planning, exercise goals, monitoring symptoms, infection protection, and genetic counseling.
- A transition plan to help children and teens move smoothly into the congenital program that will follow them throughout their adult life.
Our team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and heart disease experts specialize in:
- A full range of imaging techniques and diagnostic studies to diagnose and treat congenital heart defects
- Cardiac catheterization and other minimally invasive procedures to treat defects of the heart and heart rhythm abnormalities
- Surgical procedures including congenital heart surgery and heart transplantation
What is Congenital Heart Disease?
A congenital heart defect is present from birth. This defect effects the structure of the heart or the blood vessels and alters the way blood flows through the heart.
Some congenital heart defects might not cause any problems. Complex defects, however, can cause life-threatening complications. Most people with a congenital heart defect undergo surgery during childhood; however, some may remain asymptomatic during childhood.
The improvements in surgical and medical management of congenital heart defects have led to the survival of patients to adulthood with special medical needs.
If you have congenital heart disease, you likely will need medical management of the condition throughout your life.
Our Care
Our goal is to ensure you receive the care you need, including:
- Ongoing, routine checkups to prevent complications. Many patients grow into adulthood with congenital heart disease. Complications can occur due to the heart adapting over time, including irregular heart rhythms, leaky valves, stroke, obstruction, and even heart failure.
- A specialized plan for your care, including family planning, exercise goals, monitoring symptoms, infection protection, and genetic counseling.
- A transition plan to help children and teens move smoothly into the congenital program that will follow them throughout their adult life.
Our team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and heart disease experts specialize in:
- A full range of imaging techniques and diagnostic studies to diagnose and treat congenital heart defects
- Cardiac catheterization and other minimally invasive procedures to treat defects of the heart and heart rhythm abnormalities
- Surgical procedures including congenital heart surgery and heart transplantation
Congenital Heart Disease Conditions
Our specialists understand how to treat all types of congenital heart defects.
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)
- Congenital aortic stenosis (AS)
- Ebstein’s anomaly
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Pulmonary valve stenosis
- Subvalvar aortic stenosis (AS)
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Ventricular septal defect
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Tricuspid atresia
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Hypoplastic heart
- Having only one ventricle
- The pulmonary artery and aorta arise from the same ventricle
Description
Congenital Heart Disease Conditions
Our specialists understand how to treat all types of congenital heart defects.
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)
- Congenital aortic stenosis (AS)
- Ebstein’s anomaly
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Pulmonary valve stenosis
- Subvalvar aortic stenosis (AS)
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Ventricular septal defect
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Tricuspid atresia
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Hypoplastic heart
- Having only one ventricle
- The pulmonary artery and aorta arise from the same ventricle
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of a congenital heart problem?
Some patients have chest pain, fatigue, or an overall feeling of weakness. However, many patients have no symptoms at all.
How are congenital problems discovered?
A diagnostic test, such as an EKG, may indicate a problem with your heart that requires further evaluation and treatment. Other patients arrive in the emergency room for life-threatening congenital heart conditions.
Are these procedures painful?
No. Most patients are under care of anesthesia so pain and discomfort can be controlled. There may be some mild discomfort after the procedure.
How long does it take to recover?
That depends on the extent of the heart surgery, but typically takes several weeks.
Will follow-up surgery be needed?
Most congenital conditions can be corrected with one procedure. However, complex conditions may require follow-up surgery.
