At what age should someone transition from pediatric to adult congenital heart disease care?

There's no single fixed age, but most ACHD specialists recommend transitioning to an adult-focused congenital heart program during the late teens or early twenties, once physical growth is complete and care needs shift toward adult specialists.

Can adults with congenital heart disease live normal, active lives?

Many adults with ACHD live active, fulfilling lives, especially when they receive regular monitoring from an adult congenital heart disease specialist. Ongoing care helps catch complications early and supports long-term heart health.

Does insurance typically cover adult congenital heart disease specialist visits?

Coverage varies by plan and provider. Patients should check with their insurance company and the ACHD program directly to confirm coverage for specialty cardiology visits, imaging and related procedures.

How often should an ACHD patient see a cardiologist?

Follow-up frequency depends on the severity of your condition and your treatment history. Your Ochsner cardiologist will create a personalized monitoring schedule based on your specific heart defect and risk factors.

Can women with ACHD have a healthy pregnancy?

Many women with ACHD can have healthy pregnancies with proper planning and monitoring. Ochsner's high-risk pregnancy specialists work alongside your cardiologist to manage risks throughout pregnancy and delivery.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Q: What is adult congenital heart disease?

Adult congenital heart disease refers to heart defects present at birth that persist, or were repaired but not completely corrected, into adulthood. These conditions require ongoing monitoring even when they've been treated successfully.

Why choose Ochsner for congenital heart disease care in adults?

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a heart condition present at birth rather than one acquired later in life. Many adults born with congenital heart disease believe they've outgrown their condition or were cured by childhood treatment, but ongoing, specialized care is essential throughout adulthood. Ochsner Health is the only program in the region treating adults with congenital heart disease in a dedicated adult care setting.

What is adult congenital heart disease?

ACHD refers to heart defects a person is born with that persist, or evolve, into adulthood. Unlike "typical" adult heart problems, ACHD requires a team of cardiologists and doctors who specialize specifically in adult congenital heart disease, not general adult cardiology.

Why does ACHD care matter in adulthood?

Many adults born with congenital heart disease assume their condition no longer requires monitoring. Patients who don't receive ongoing monitoring face a higher risk of:

Irregular heartbeats
Blood clots
Congestive heart failure
Sudden cardiac death

Congenital heart disease can also affect pregnancies and may increase the risk of heart disease in their kids, making specialized, continuous care important for long-term health and family planning.

What makes Ochsner's ACHD program different?

Ochsner is the only program in the region treating adults with congenital heart disease in an adult care setting, and the program has become a recognized referral center for patients with complex congenital heart defects. Ochsner physicians hold additional board certification in adult congenital heart disease, reflecting specialized training beyond general cardiology.

Who is on Ochsner's ACHD care team?

Ochsner's internationally renowned ACHD team includes:

Advanced imaging specialists with expertise in CT scans, MRI scans and echocardiograms (ECHO, an ultrasound of the heart)
Interventional cardiologists
Cardiovascular surgeons
Electrophysiologists
Pulmonary hypertension specialists
Geneticists
Heart failure and transplant cardiologists
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists with extensive experience caring for expectant mothers with congenital heart disease

Each team member brings specialized knowledge of congenital heart disease, allowing patients to receive coordinated, adult-focused care rather than care designed for typical adult heart conditions.

Ochsner's dedicated ACHD professionals are committed to delivering elite-level outcomes for every patient. Learn more about our patients' high survival rates.

Ochsner is dedicated to providing a seamless approach to treating children and adults with congenital heart disease. Learn more about Ochsner's care of congenital heart disease in children.

These days, the majority of babies born with congenital heart disease can expect to live into adulthood and enjoy happy, productive, lives. Still, according to the National Institute of Health, 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.

What diagnostic procedures does Ochsner offer for ACHD patients?

Ochsner Health offers state-of-the-art diagnostic testing to monitor ACHD and catch potential complications early. Our diagnostic services include:

Echocardiography and fetal echocardiography
Cardiac MRI
Cardiac CT
Stress testing
CPX (cardiopulmonary stress testing)
Cardiac catheterizations (diagnostic and interventional)
Electrophysiology tests (EP) - a test conducted to evaluate your heart's electrical system or activity and used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia.
Pacemaker and defibrillator placement and management

How does Ochsner support family planning and high-risk pregnancy for ACHD patients?

At Ochsner, our team offer comprehensive care for patients navigating family planning decisions or high-risk pregnancy management. Because congenital heart disease can add complexity to pregnancy, our specialists work closely with patients before conception and throughout pregnancy to help protect both mother and baby.

Is endocarditis a risk for ACHD patients?

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.

What should you know about your own heart condition?

Taking charge of your heart health starts with understanding your diagnosis and care plan. 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

Types of Heart Disease

If you have one of the conditions listed below, you should have periodic heart checks. A visit to an adult congenital heart disease 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
Secundum atrial septal defect
Ventricular septal defect

Repaired or unrepaired conditions:

Aortic valve disease: aortic stenosis or aortic insufficiency
Mitral valve disease: mitral stenosis or mitral insufficiency
Patent foramen ovale
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 adult congenital heart disease program such as Ochsner’s.

Repaired or unrepaired conditions:

Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery
Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (partial or total)
Atrioventricular 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 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
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
Truncus arterious/hemitruncus

All patients who have undergone any of the following procedures