Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital Heart disease is a heart disease you are born with – not something you acquire later in life. Many adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) believe they've either outgrown their condition or were cured by treatment they received as a child. Studies show, however, that less than 30% [1] of adults born with CHD are receiving the care they need from specialty ACHD programs. Patients who don’t receive monitoring in adulthood are at a higher risk for irregular heartbeats, blood clots, congestive heart failure, and even sudden cardiac death, and congenital heart disease may adversely affect pregnancies or increase the risk of heart disease in offspring. Ochsner is the only program in the region treating adults with congenital heart patients in an adult setting.

Ochsner’s internationally renowned team includes advanced imaging specialists with expertise in CT, MRI and ECHO as well as interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologists, pulmonary hypertension specialists, geneticists, and heart failure and transplant cardiologists, all with special knowledge about CHD. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists have extensive experience caring for expectant mothers with CHD.

Over the years, we have become recognized as a referral center for complex patients with congenital heart defects. Our physicians hold additional board certification in adult congenital heart disease.

Keep in mind that ACHD heart problems are different from “typical” adult heart problems. You need a team of cardiologists and doctors who specialize in ACHD.

Our dedicated professionals have made it their mission to provide elite level outcomes for every CHD patient. Learn more about our patients' high survival rates.

These days, the majority of babies born with CHD can expect to live into adulthood and enjoy happy, productive, lives. Still, as many as 85% of ACHD patients have moderate-to-severe defects that have been repaired but not completely corrected. Lifelong monitoring is essential. See below for a list of conditions with care guidelines recommended by the Adult Congenital Heart Association.

Ochsner offers state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, including:

Echocardiography and fetal echocardiography
Cardiac MRI
Cardiac CT
Stress Testing
CPX (cardiopulmonary stress testing)
Cardiac Catheterizations (diagnostic and interventional)
EP Tests (electrophysiology studies)
Pacemaker and defibrillator placement and management

Family Planning and High-Risk Pregnancy Management

What forms of birth control can be risky for women with complex CHD? Will having a baby put your health at risk? Can a mother or a father pass down their condition to their children? At Ochsner, we offer comprehensive treatment for patients facing family planning issues and require high-risk pregnancy management. You have questions. Ochsner doctors have answers.

Protecting Your Heart from Infection

Is endocarditis (heart infection) something you really have to think about? Should you take antibiotics before you go to the dentist or undergo any other procedure? Even if your heart condition has been repaired or hasn't caused symptoms, you may be at risk. If you’re not sure if you need to take special precautions, you need to ask your doctor.

Know Your Heart

Take charge of your heart health. Make sure you know and understand the following:

Details about your heart condition
Your past treatment, test results and surgical records
Information about your medications, including possible side effects
Exercise guidelines
Work restrictions, if applicable
Recommendations regarding birth control and pregnancy
When you should contact your doctor

[1] Marelli AJ, Mackie AS, Ionescu-Ittu R, Rahme E, Pilote L. CHD in the general population: changing prevalence and age distribution. Circulation. 2007;115:163–172.

Types of Heart Disease

If you have one of the conditions listed below, you should have periodic heart checks. A visit to an ACDH program such as Ochsner’s is recommended to verify your diagnosis and health status, but long-term cardiac care can often be provided by your local cardiologist.

Repaired conditions:

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD)
Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Repaired or unrepaired conditions:

Aortic valve disease: aortic stenosis or aortic insufficiency
Mitral valve disease: mitral stenosis or mitral insufficiency
Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Pulmonic valve disease: pulmonic stenosis or pulmonic insufficiency

If you have one of the conditions listed below, you should be seen every one to two years or more frequently at an ACDH program such as Ochsner’s.

Repaired or unrepaired conditions:

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA)
Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (partial or total)
Atrioventricular (AV) canal/septal defects (partial or complete)
Ostium primum or sinus venosus ASDs
Coarctation of the aorta
Ebstein’s anomaly
Infundibular right ventricular overflow obstruction (moderate to severe)
Pulmonary valve regurgitation (moderate to severe)
Pulmonic value stenosis (moderate to severe)
Sinus of Valsalva fistula/aneurysm
Subvalvar or supravalvar aortic stenosis
Tetralogy of Fallot
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with any valve problems and/or obstructions

Patients with these conditions should to be seen every year or more frequently at an adult congenital heart program.

Repaired or unrepaired conditions:

Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (ccTGA or L-TGA)
Double outlet ventricle
Mitral atresia
Pulmonary atresia (all forms)
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Shone’s syndrome
Single Ventricle – all forms (including but not limited to tricuspid atresia, double-inlet ventricle, hypoplastic left heart syndrome)
Transposition of the Great Arteries (d-TGA)
Truncus arterious/hemitruncus

All patients who have undergone any of the following procedures