Congenital heart disease is a structural heart problem some people are born with and is the most common type of birth defect. Advancements in congenital heart surgery have made it possible to repair and improve heart function in babies, but the condition continues to exist after they grow up.
Most people don't receive care for CHD because they think they were cured as children or have “outgrown” it. This condition is never cured, and as an adult it increases your risk of developing heart problems such as heart rhythm disorders and infective endocarditis.
If you have CHD, lifelong heart care is a necessity. The Sutter Health network's cardiovascular specialists are highly skilled at treating adult congenital heart disease and provide advanced diagnostic testing including intracardiac echocardiograms and transesophageal echocardiogram. Your cardiologist will develop a treatment and maintenance plan tailored to your specific needs and concerns.
Depending on your clinical care team's recommendations, your care plan may be as simple as regular follow-up visits and screening for complications, or may include medications. Should you need surgery, our highly trained clinical care team offers traditional surgery as well as minimally invasive procedures.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic
Located in Sacramento, we are proud to offer an Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic which provides comprehensive care for patients as they grow into adulthood. Our highly specialized, multidisciplinary team combines the clinical resources of Sutter’s Heart & Vascular Institute, Sutter Children’s Center and our high-risk obstetric services.
The clinic is open to anybody across Northern California in the Sutter Health network. We guide our patients to empower them to manage their CHD. And for every step of the way, we coordinate the specific, personalized care they need through pregnancy, surgery, other heart-related conditions and beyond.
