Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program

Listen to an interview with Michael Earing, MD, director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, an Heidi Peters, one of his patients. The interview originally aired on WUWM-FM, 89.7, Tuesday, July 6.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, along with Froedtert Hospital and The Medical College of Wisconsin, runs one of the few adult congenital heart disease programs in the country. The program treats the increasing number of people born with heart conditions who are living into adulthood. Thanks to advances in pediatric surgery and cardiothoracic surgery there now are more than a million adults with congenital heart disease living in the United States.

As a result, a new specialty - Adult Congenital Heart Disease - has begun to treat this unique population. Two of the less than 40 doctors nationwide with this experience - Michael Earing, MD, and Peter Bartz, MD - see patients at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. They also are on staff at Froedtert Hospital and are part of both adult and pediatric divisions at the Medical College of Wisconsin. This allows them to span the pediatric and adult medical specialties to provide the best, most complete care.

Since adult patients with congenital heart disease are now living longer than ever before, we have learned that even the most simple defects can be linked with long-term complications we never knew existed. These include both cardiac and non-cardiac problems. Cardiac complications include: rhythm problems, heart block, heart failure, residual holes, leaky and tight valves, high blood pressure and aneurysms. Non-cardiac issues include learning disabilities, hearing and vision problems, and lung problems.  

Although most children who have surgical intervention will survive to a dulthood, "total correction" is not the rule. The few exceptions include patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defects and atrial septal defects, and only if they are closed early before irreversible cardiac or lung damage develops and no residual lesions exist. Most patients who underwent heart surgery as a child should see a heart doctor for life. 

While many people may not experience any symptoms, early warning signs may include:

• Heidi, 28, was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease at birth. Learn more here.

  Heart racing.
• Extra beats.
• Exercise intolerance or reduction in stamina.
• Easily exhausted, for example when walking up stairs.

Many other non-cardiac problems arise during adulthood that also require special attention. These include:

• Difficulties in obtaining health and life insurance.
• Pregnancy.
• Birth control.
• Exercise restrictions.
• Learning disabilities.

These problems all can have a major impact on quality of life. The adult congenital heart disease staff is experienced and dedicated in helping deal with these many issues. 

The clinic offers:

• Diagnosis and follow-up including chest X-rays, echocardiography studies, EKG studies, stress tests and exercise physiology studies.
• Medication management.
• Catheterization procedures.
• Surgery.

In addition, our team is involved in numerous national collaborative research projects to continue improving the care for this and future generations of adults with congenital heart disease.