Structural Heart disease: a heart with congenital heart defects

Understanding Structural Heart Disease

Educating our community about structural heart disease is something South Miami Heart Center takes very seriously. By sharing information, we can create a healthier future for our community. This Web page provides a brief introduction to structural heart disease, also known as congenital heart disease that may answer questions that are frequently being asked.

About Structural 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 one million Americans born with structural or congenital heart disease, a healthy heart is not a given.

Congenital is defined as “existing at birth”—meaning that the heart defect developed before the person was born. Congenital defects create abnormal heart structure and function. Sometimes, this blocks or slows blood flow in the heart or nearby vessels.

While most heart defects are taken care of in childhood, South Miami Heart Center believes that adult patients deserve a continuum of care. By providing diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care, we help adults with congenital heart disease manage their condition and live longer, healthier lives.

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. In addition, congenital heart defects can be hard to detect during an exam. If symptoms appear, they may begin at birth, during childhood or adulthood.

Adult symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath
• Lack of stamina during exercise

South Miami Heart Center—Experience Creates Superior Care

When you need excellent medical care for structural heart disease or cardiovascular care, South Miami Heart Center is here to help. It begins with our exceptional facility, which offers next-generation technologies and treatments. Our quality care continues with our medical services, provided by some of Miami’s finest specialists and a compassionate, caring staff.

Treatment Options

Some people can manage congenital heart disease with medication. Others need more intervention. Either way, your heart health is in good hands at South Miami Heart Center.

For appropriate patients, our Heart Center 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.

Similar to an angioplasty, for each procedure 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 has many benefits, including quicker recovery, shorter hospital stay and less pain and scarring.

Robot-assisted Heart Surgery

At South Miami Heart Center, we are able to correct some structural heart defects using our da Vinci robot. This technique allows surgeons 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 Heart Center surgeons a better view of the heart. Using robotic technology, they can magnify views. Truly a minimally invasive procedure, robotic surgery is another distinct advantage South Miami Heart Center offers 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.

Physician Referral

Get an online referral to a South Miami Heart Center physician or call the South Miami Heart Center Physician Referral line at 786-662-2222.