Understanding Congenital Heart Disease
The heart is one of our body's hardest working organs. Many of us take this miracle for granted. Others are not so fortunate. For approximately 1 million Americans born with congenital heart disease, a healthy heart is not a given.
Congenital is defined as "inborn” or “existing at birth”—meaning that the heart defect developed before the person was born. (It is also referred to as structural heart disease.) Congenital defects create an abnormal heart structure and function. This can block or slow blood flow in the heart or nearby vessels.
While most congenital heart defects are addressed in childhood, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute believes that adult patients deserve a comprehensive continuum of care. By providing diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care, we help adults with congenital heart disease manage their condition and embrace living.
Are You at Risk?
Although the causes of structural heart disease are largely unknown, certain factors contribute to it:
- Family history of congenital heart disease
- Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome
- Alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy
- Taking certain medications during pregnancy
- Infections (such as rubella, also known as German measles) during pregnancy
Symptoms
Many congenital heart defects have no symptoms and defects can be difficult to detect during an exam. If symptoms appear, they may begin at birth or during childhood or adulthood.
Adult symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Lack of stamina during exercise
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute—The Right Choice for Care
When you need excellent medical care for structural heart disease, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute can help. It begins with our state-of-the-art facility, which offers the technologies and treatments you need to stay healthy. This quality care continues with our medical services, provided by some of Miami’s finest specialists and our compassionate, caring staff.
Treatment Options
Some people can manage congenital heart disease with medication. Others need more intervention. Either way, you’ll feel confident that your health is in good hands at Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute.
Our physicians are leading the way in developing new treatments for structural heart disease. In fact, they participated in the first national studies of catheter-based closure of PFO and left-atrial appendage.
For appropriate patients, Institute physicians offer minimally invasive options to correct heart defects, including:
- Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO)—This procedure closes a PFO, a tiny flap in the area separating the upper right and left heart chambers.
- Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD)—This procedure seals an ASD, a hole located in the walls between the heart’s atria.
- Percutaneous left atrial appendage—This procedure implants a device just behind or at the opening of the left atrial appendage, a thumb-sized pouch located on top of your heart. The device prevents blood clots from entering your blood stream and causing a stroke.
These procedures are similar to angioplasty. In each instance, an interventional cardiologist uses a catheter to implant a corrective device into the affected area. This requires a tiny incision in your groin. In contrast with traditional open heart surgery, this method offers patients quicker recovery, a shorter hospital stay and less pain and scarring.
Robot-assisted Heart Surgery
Some structural heart defects are corrected using robot-assisted surgery. This technique allows the surgeon to access the heart through small incisions no wider than a thumb. The surgeon maneuvers a da Vinci robot’s arms to repair the defect, thereby avoiding the need for open heart surgery.
The da Vinci’s high-resolution camera and multidimensional images give surgeons a better view of the heart. Using robotic technology, surgeons can zoom in and out to magnify views. Truly a minimally invasive procedure, robotic surgery is another advantage available to Institute patients.
If your congenital heart defect cannot be corrected with minimally invasive techniques, our specialists offer other surgical options to get you back on the road to good health.
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