Congenital heart disease covers a range of heart defects present at birth. Modern surgical treatment helps more than 90 percent of infants and children diagnosed with congenital heart disease live well into adulthood. Adults born with congenital heart disease are recommended to get long-term follow-up care from trained Adult Congenital Heart Disease specialists like those at Austin Heart.

Since adults with congenital heart disease face different issues than pediatric patients, Austin Heart offers adult care from trained Adult Congenital Heart Disease specialists. Austin Heart’s ACHD specialists have training and experience in surgical and catheter interventions for congenital heart disease in adult anatomy and physiology to deal with adult specific complicating cardiac issues such as hypertension, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. ACHD Specialists are experts in the multi-disciplinary approach to the complicated issues that can affect adult congenital heart disease patients.

Austin Heart’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease program was built by the same ACHD cardiologist that previously built and grew the largest ACHD program in New York. His extensive clinical experience, research experience, and representation on the national level in advocacy for adult congenital heart disease means Austin Heart has the best ACHD resources in Texas.

Conditions treated

Austin Heart ACHD Specialists commonly treat conditions including:

  • Atrial septal defect
  • Ventricular septal defect
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Transposition of great vessels
  • Ebstein's anomaly
  • Endocardial cushion defect
  • Single ventricle physiology
  • Pulmonary stenosis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Coarctation of the aorta

Additionally, we manage adult acquired cardiac disease such as:

  • Coronary disease
  • Hypertension
  • Heart failure
  • Ventricular arrhythmias

Austin Heart diagnostic services

Austin Heart offers a complete modern suite of non-invasive and minimally invasive diagnostic methods. Some of these diagnostic options include:

  • Cardiac Ultrasound (or Echocardiography) - Non-invasive imaging using sound waves to examine the heart’s structure and function
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - Non-invasive recording of the electrical activity of the heart
  • Exercise Stress Test - Measuring the heart’s electrical function during physical exercise
  • Cardiac MRI - Non-invasive imaging using magnetic fields to create detailed images of the heart and surrounding blood vessels
  • Cardiac CT Scan - Non-invasive imaging using x-rays to create detailed images of the heart and surrounding blood vessels
  • Cardiac Catheterization - Minimally invasive procedure using a long, thin tube called a catheter inserted into an artery or vein in the groin, neck, or arm and guided through the blood vessels to directly monitor the function and structure of the heart and the condition of the surrounding blood vessels.

Austin Heart treatment services

Successfully treated pediatric congenital heart disease can still lead to complications in adulthood. Prior congenital heart defects can result in an increased risk of leaking heart valves, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, heart infections, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and stroke.

To manage the wide variety of these increased risks, Austin Heart offers a full range of treatment options for ACHD patients including:

  • Medicinal Treatment - creating and monitoring a medicinal treatment plan for heart conditions
  • Transcatheter Intervention - minimally invasive procedure to surgically treat a variety of heart defects using catheter-mounted surgical tools
  • Coarctation Stenting - minimally invasive surgical procedure to open and brace artery walls using a catheter-implanted stent
  • Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement - surgical procedure to replace poorly functioning pulmonary valves using minimally invasive catheter-mounted tools
  • Transcatheter Pulmonary Artery Stenting - minimally invasive surgical procedure to open and brace the walls of the pulmonary artery using a catheter-implanted stent
  • Transcatheter ASD and VSD Closure - minimally invasive surgical procedure to repair atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects
  • Traditional Valve Replacement Surgery - open heart surgical procedure to replace poorly functioning heart valves
  • Aortic Surgery - open heart surgical procedure to repair a variety of problems with the aorta
  • Fontan Revision - open heart surgical procedure to revise and improve the results of a previously performed Fontan procedure
  • Primary Congenital Heart Disease Repair - a variety of surgical procedures for the initial treatment for congenital heart disease or defects