Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
An estimated 40,000 babies are born each year in the United States with congenital heart disease (CHD), making it among the most common problems diagnosed in newborns. The good news is that children with CHD are living longer and benefit from a wide range of care to enhance quality of life and daily activities. There are now approximately 1.4 million U.S. adults living with CHD, resulting in an increased need for specialized heart care for those who have outgrown pediatric care and still need ongoing medical management.
Why Choose Us
The cardiologists leading our program are board-certified in both pediatric and adult congenital cardiology. In addition to experienced physicians, the team includes a physician assistant and nurse coordinator as well as a social worker and exercise physiologist.
We have a full-range of services — from diagnostic to treatment and management — for complex heart conditions including:
- Aortic stenosis
- Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias)
- Atrial & ventricular septal defects
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Double outlet right ventricle
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Tricuspid atresia
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Valve disorders/defects
- Heart failure
We offer a wide range of tests to diagnose or confirm CHD in children and adults, including advanced cardiac imaging (cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, metabolic stress test, echocardiograms).
When needed, patients benefit from our advanced treatment options, including heart and valve surgeries, cardiac catheterization, and other interventional procedures as well as ventricular assist device implantation and heart transplantation.
We coordinate care at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (located next door) and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - St. Louis (located in Richmond Heights). We treat patients who have been diagnosed as young children and those diagnosed as an adolescent or adult who was unaware of a congenital heart problem until symptoms arose. Our pediatric/adult congenital heart disease specialists will coordinate with adult specialists as needed for the care of their patients:
- Electrophysiologists
- Pulmonologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Genetic counselors
- Heart failure specialists
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Nutrition experts
- Psychiatry
- Cardiac rehabilitation specialists
24/7 ACHD Consultations
For urgent concerns, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital offers a dedicated ACHD Urgent Care Clinic and 24-hour access to ACHD consultations for all patients with ACHD and their families.
If you are a provider and need an inpatient consultation, call 314-268-2700, ext. 7792 or page 314-908-0103 from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. For urgent consultations outside business hours, call 314-577-5600 and ask for the cardiologist on call.
A significant increase in referrals to specialized ACHD centers followed the introduction of clinical guidelines. Moreover, referrals to specialized ACHD care was independently associated with a significant mortality reduction. Our findings support a model of specialized care for all ACHD patients.
THRIVE Program
The THRIVE Program — Transitioning Heart warriors to be Ready, Independent, Vigilant, and Empowered — empowers teens to be self-aware of their condition and prepares them to be essential parts of their healthcare team as they become adults.
