Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)

Congenital heart defects, or heart defects patients are born with, can be found in infancy, adolescence or adulthood. For these individuals, the management of care can be ongoing. The Adult Congenital Heart program provides a continuum of care between Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Methodist Healthcare. Pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons and specialized nurses trained in both pediatric and adult care are dedicated to treating patients with adult congenital heart disease, and liaison with pediatric and adult cardiologists in the region. We follow patients closely in our clinic, and follow a team approach to treating them. An important goal for the team is to provide education to congenital heart patients transitioning into adulthood.

There can be many reasons an adult with congenital heart disease may need additional surgery. Some of these are conduit failure, valve failure, intracardiac shunts like ASD or VSD, arrhythmia surgery or Fontan conversions. If surgery is needed, Le Bonheur pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons perform the surgery.

Some of the program services include:

• Transition from pediatric cardiology to the adult congenital heart services
• Initial referral and assessment
• Diagnostic services
• Cardiac catheterization and intervention
• Electrophysiology
• Cardiac surgery
• Non-cardiac surgery
• Maternity and obstetric services
• Genetic counseling

Our Team

• Ryan Jones, MD
• Rush Waller, MD

To request an appointment or for additional information, contact the Heart Institute at cardiac@lebonheur.org.