Adult Congenital Heart Program

As our pediatric congenital heart disease patients move from childhood into adulthood, our program is there every step of the way to make sure they receive continuous, comprehensive care for even the most complex heart disease. Our multidisciplinary integrated program was the first in the state dedicated to the care of adult patients with complex congenital heart disease, and encompasses the full spectrum of care, including imaging, exercise testing, and surgical as well as less-invasive catheterization therapies.

Our Services

Our patients can expect to receive detailed information about their underlying congenital heart defect, its management, and the implications on their future heart function. Patients in the program are assured of the careful transition of care from their childhood diagnosis into adulthood, and appropriate wrap-around care for adults who are new to the program.

Commonly encountered problems related to adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) include the following:

Unrepaired congenital defects
Complications associated with early surgical repair
Heart failure
Heart rhythm problems, including pacemakers and defibrillators
Pregnancy issues

Our expert, board-certified cardiac physicians and surgeons treat these, among other heart conditions:

Atrial septal defect (ASD)
Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Atrioventricular canal defect
Bicuspid aortic valve
Pulmonary stenosis
Coarctation of the aorta
Ebstein's anomaly
Transposition of the great arteries, including those who have had a Mustard or Senning operation or arterial switch operation
Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries
Tetralogy of Fallot
Complex single ventricle patients, including those who had a Fontan operation
Cyanotic heart disease
Patients who had a Ross operation as a child
Congenital coronary anomalies, including ALCAPA (anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery)

Our Approach

Instead of delaying treatment for complex congenital heart disease, our state-of-the-art imaging, including echocardiograms (ultrasound) and MRI, allows for early diagnosis, before symptoms may interfere with a patient’s life. Our program also works closely with Yale's maternal-fetal medicine team to care for women with congenital heart disease before and after they give birth.

Yale’s world-class congenital cardiac catheterization lab provides access to the latest advances in transcatheter valve placement, treatment of atrial septal defects, and all forms of congenital heart disease. We provide comprehensive electrophysiology services, including management of arrhythmias and placement of pacemakers and defibrillators.