Adult Congenital Surgery

The specific services available to your patients suffering from adult congenital heart defects include:

• Minimally invasive, limited incision repair of congenital defects
• Reoperative procedures for correction of progressive congenital heart defects
• Combined heart and lung transplantation for end-staged congenital heart defects

Who treats congenital heart defects?

Pediatric cardiologists diagnose heart defects and help manage the health of children before and after surgical repair of the heart problem.

A new subspecialty within cardiology is emerging as the number of adults with congenital heart defects (CHD) is now greater than the number of babies born with CHD, as a result of the advances in diagnostic procedures and treatment interventions that have been made since 1945.

In order to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of wellness, it is imperative that those individuals born with CHD who have reached adulthood transition to the appropriate type of cardiac care. The type of care required is based on the type of CHD a person has. Those persons with simple CHD can generally be cared for by an adult cardiologist. Those with more complex types of CHD will need to be cared for at a center that specializes in adult CHD.

For adults with CHD, guidance is necessary for planning key life issues such as college, career, employment, insurance, activity, lifestyle, inheritance, family planning, pregnancy, chronic care, disability, and end of life. Knowledge about specific congenital heart conditions, expectations for long-term outcomes and potential complications, and risks must be reviewed as part of the successful transition from pediatric care to adult care. Parents should help pass on the responsibility for this knowledge and accountability for ongoing care to their young adult children to help ensure the transition to adult specialty care and optimize the health status of the young adult with CHD.