When the heart or blood vessels near the heart do not develop normally before birth, a condition called congenital heart disease occurs (congenital means "existing at birth").

Heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, occurring in 1 out of every 120 live births. Most are detected at birth, but sometimes they so not present symptoms until adulthood.

Even when defects are repaired during infancy or childhood, people born with congenital heart problems need to be carefully followed during their entire lives because they are seldom “cured” by surgery and continue to have cardiac problems.

Pediatric cardiologists take care of children with congenital heart disease. Adults with congenital heart disease need specialized adult cardiologist.

Adult Congenital Heart Clinic – Information and Referrals For more information, to make an appointment or refer a patient, please call 703-776-3599 (For Inova Fairfax Hospital referrals only)

Inova Heart and Vascular Institute experience

The Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute was one of the first programs in the country designed to care for this special patient population. Fifteen years later, it remains the only center of its kind in Northern Virginia.

Learn more about the extensive experience of the Inova physicians involved with the program