Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center of Koç Heath Group has been established to perform follow-up and current treatment in a timely manner for patients aged above 18 with congenital anomaly in heart and coronary arteries, who have undergone surgery or who are actively followed up, and to supervise them for all lifetime questions and problems.
Our clinic aims to meet the needs of adult patients with congenital heart diseases under a single roof. Pediatric cardiologists constitute the most important arm of the congenital cardiology. Adult cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, who are experienced in congenital heart diseases, are also among the essential members of our team. Advanced cardiologic and radiologic imaging plays a very important role in the follow-up of patients with congenital heart disease and selection of new intervention(s) and treatment(s). Specialists’ experience is as important as equipment in order to carry out these modalities properly. Here, cutting-edge equipment is combined with our specialists who have a great experience and knowledge.
Our clinic routinely institutes “cardiopulmonary stress test” that is used to evaluate exercise capacity of patients from cardiac perspective. Gynecologists and obstetricians cooperate and collaborate with cardiologists in order to ensure a healthy pregnancy for women especially at reproductive age. To maintain our patients’ both physical and mental health, our psychiatrists and psychologists also work at our clinic, when needed. Besides, genetic counselors and social experts are among the inevitable members of our clinic.
Some of the congenital heart diseases can be completely cured with interventional or surgical procedures during childhood, while most of these diseases can be alleviated with interventional and surgical procedures. These patients should especially be followed up at regular intervals. Studies reveal out that problems of such patients worsen if the condition is not treated in a timely manner, as cardiac problems of these patients emerge at the age of 30 to 40 years. In these patients, delayed diagnosis and treatment may pose life-threatening risks and reduce the efficacy of treatment. It is, however, possible to detect the condition through certain tests before the onset of symptoms. Thus, follow-up exams are very crucial. In some diseases, surgical interventions are only palliative (partially curative); in other words, complete cure is not achievable. It is vitally important that these patients are referred to our clinic in the transition from childhood to adolescence and that there should be no interruption in their follow-up.
For all congenital heart disease groups, details of follow-up are outlined after investigations are made. When the patients with no complaint are started on follow-up processes that are scientifically designed and planned, the problems can be identified before the onset of symptoms and solved successfully through appropriate interventions.
Main procedures and programs of our center which has soon became one of the most important reference clinics in the country and the region are as follows:
EDKH (Adult Congenital Heart Diseases) Center’s Transition Program
To maintain follow-up and treatment regularly for patients with childhood-onset congenital heart disease and patients who have undergone surgery and manage the condition, such patients should necessarily be followed up by an experienced team during the transition to adulthood. Our Adult Congenital Heart Diseases Center uses the Transition Program to provide solutions to all problems of those patients under a single roof.
Supervision of Pregnancy and Pregnancy and Birth Counseling Program for Women with Congenital Heart Disease
Most of women with congenital heart disease can have a healthy pregnancy. This requires careful planning and management. Our center provides the women with congenital heart disease with supervision of pregnancy and pregnancy counseling program.