Main ContentAdult Congenital Heart Program
The University of Mississippi Medical Center is home to the state's only adult congenital heart program. University Heart provides specialized care to adults with congenital heart defects of all types, whether newly diagnosed or previously repaired. With congenital heart surgeons on-site, we can provide the full range of treatments for our patients without leaving our facility. Our cardiologists are board certified in Adult Congenital Heart Disease and can perform interventional procedures in our state-of-the-art heart center. Our patients have access to the full range of congenital heart services and specialists, all backed by Mississippi's only academic medical center. UMMC Adult Congenital Heart program is here to improve the lives of our patients living with congenital heart disease through optimizing their physical, medical, and mental health. Read more about congenital heart disease in adults here.
Contact the adult congenital heart program
Health care professionals
To refer a patient to UMMC’s adult congenital heart program:
Meet our ACHD Team
A team approach to congenital heart care
Specialized care is central to long-term quality of life for adults living with congenital heart defects. Our team of adult cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists, congenital heart surgeons, and other healthcare professionals work together to develop individual patient plans to treat and manage heart disease.
Individual care plans address:
The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Center for Integrative Health is also a great resource for patients with challenges related to chronic medical conditions.
We work closely with patients to help prevent and manage medical complications such as pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. We also work with patients’ own primary care physicians and cardiologists to provide continuous care through all stages of life.
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My Personal Heart Passport
University Heart provides adult congenital heart patients with a free copy of My Personal Heart Passport. This booklet helps physicians and patients keep track of medical history, medication and dosages, emergency contacts, and other important information.
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Lifelong Care for CHD Patients
Adults with congenital heart disease need to have medical care throughout their lives, and they benefit from providers who appreciate their complex needs. We have a dedicated clinic for adult patients with congenital heart disease along with a separate Fontan clinic for patients with single ventricle heart disease. Our program has an emphasis on patient-centered visits, ensuring that adult health issues are addressed and with a focus on patient education.
Outpatient services include:
- Echocardiography performed in clinic on the day of your visit
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT)
- Exercise testing
The Fontan clinic at UMMC serves adults born with a single ventricle heart defect and who have had a Fontan procedure. Patients who have had the Fontan procedure are able to live long, healthy lives but are vulnerable to issues with other organ systems as they age. Some long-term health issues after having a Fontan procedure may not be preventable but can be manageable if detected early. Other organ systems that might be involved are the kidneys, liver, lungs, bones, and gastrointestinal tract. People with congenital heart disease may also have learning challenges or psychiatric problems in addition to special nutritional needs or considerations with reproductive health.
Our Fontan clinic includes adult congenital cardiologists and liver specialists along with our congenital heart team members. The Fontan clinic is designed to provide care for patients with Fontan circulation in one comprehensive visit so that patients can see multiple specialists and receive necessary testing on the same day rather than coordinating visits on separate days. However, if our team identifies any of the other issues mentioned above, referrals can be made to other specialties to provide inclusive care. Our goal is to provide Fontan patients with all of the resources they need to thrive and have a high quality of life.
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Inpatient Services
Our inpatient service treats and consults patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Areas of expertise include:
- Post-operative care
- Cardiac catheterization
- Diagnosis and management of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension
- Management of pregnant patients before and after delivery in conjunction with our obstetrics team
- Arrhythmia treatment and pacemaker management in conjunction with our heart rhythm specialists
- Consultation in the cardiac intensive care unit
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A partnership with Children's of Mississippi
Small hearts need special care. The adult congenital heart program at UMMC works closely with the Children's of Mississippi congenital heart program to help older children transition into adult care. Our team partners with primary care physicians and cardiologists throughout the state to provide congenital heart patients with the continuous care they need.
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Senior fellowship program
We offer a two-year fellowship program in adult congenital heart disease, which is accredited through the American Graduate Medical Association.
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In the News
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Patients
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