Treatment Options
Treatment for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) depends on unique symptoms of each individual patient.
The following are common symptoms patients can experience and the possible treatment options:
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Fast-Beating HeartShow
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If a patient’s heart is beating fast, either all the time or every once in a while, they may be treated with:
- Medicines to control the heart rate or to prevent the abnormal rhythm
- An ablation procedure, where the electrical circuit causing the rapid heartbeat is interrupted
- Pacemaker
- Defibrillator
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Severe Valve ProblemShow
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If a patient’s valve problem has become unacceptably severe, they may be treated with:
- Valve repair
- Valve replacement
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Heart Infection (Infective Endocarditis)Show
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If a patient has had a heart infection called infective endocarditis, they may be treated with:
- Appropriate antibiotics
- Heart surgery, if needed
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Weak Heart MuscleShow
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If a patient has a very weak heart muscle, they may be treated with:
- Medications
- Treatment of the condition causing the weak muscle (for example, a leaky or narrow valve)
- A pacemaker procedure called “cardiac resynchronization"
- Mechanical circulatory support and/or heart transplantation
What to Expect from Treatment
A typical congenital heart patient visit includes an Echo ECG, a health history and a physical exam. Typically, the patient can expect to see three or four different congenital heart professionals during the course of the visit.
At each visit, the patient and cardiologist discuss when to schedule the next visit and what future testing to include in the treatment plan.
Specialized Programs
Fontan Management Clinic
The Fontan Management Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of the few programs in the country that provides complete and specialized care to individuals with a Fontan circulation.
Learn more about the Fontan Management Clinic
Transition Program for Teenagers
Congenital heart disease requires lifelong follow-up to prevent complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, infection, stroke and premature death. Our mission is to design an individualized plan for each patient to move smoothly from a dependent role in his or her healthcare to one of independence and self-care.
Maternal Cardiac Care
Most women with congenital heart disease can expect to have a healthy and successful pregnancy. However, because pregnancy puts extra stress on the heart, careful evaluation and surveillance is essential.
Our program is dedicated to ensuring the best pregnancy outcomes for patients with congenital heart conditions.
Conditions We Treat
Learn more about the congenital heart defects we treat and the outlook into adulthood for some of these complex conditions.