Doctors often identify congenital heart disease early in life. But some people don’t learn of their condition until they’re adults. At UW Health, we partner with you to provide lifelong care, no matter when you get your diagnosis. We give special attention to children transitioning from pediatric to adult heart specialists. We’re also a trusted resource to people as they enter different life stages, such as pregnancy.
Our adult congenital heart disease program is nationally accredited — only a select group of centers in the U.S. have achieved this status.
Specific conditions we treat include:
Aortic aneurysm
Aortic arch anomalies
Aortopulmonary collateral
Aortic valve disease
Aortic valve insufficiency
Atrioventricular canal defect
Bicuspid aortic valve
Coarctation of the aorta
Crisscross heart
Cyanotic congenital heart defect
DiGeorge syndrome
Double-outlet ventricle
Double-inlet ventricle
Heart failure (cardiomyopathy)
Ebstein anomaly
Eisenmenger syndrome
Fontan anatomy
Heterotaxy syndrome
Holt-Oram syndrome
Hypoplastic left or right heart syndrome
Interrupted aortic arch
Isomerism
Kawasaki disease
Loeys-Dietz syndrome
Marfan syndrome
Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral atresia
Noonan syndrome
Parachute mitral valve
Partial or total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Patent ductus arteriosus
Pulmonary valve insufficiency
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Peripheral pulmonary stenosis
Shone complex
Single ventricle
Subvalvar aortic stenosis
Supravalvar aortic stenosis
Tetralogy of Fallot
Truncus arteriosus
Transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA, cc-TGA, l-TGA)
Tricuspid atresia
Turner syndrome
Ventricular inversion
Unicuspid aortic valve
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ventricular septal defect
Williams syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome
We tailor treatment to your needs. Some conditions cause few or no issues at first. We monitor them carefully because they might get worse over time. Other conditions can be life-threatening right away. Even problems that were addressed when you were a child could need more attention later in life.
Catheter-based treatments
These procedures allow us to correct heart problems without surgery and are performed in a hybrid lab, which is a world-class first in patient safety and uses low-dose radiation. They involve threading a thin tube called a catheter through a blood vessel to your heart. We then pass tiny specialized tools through the catheter to treat your heart issue.
Imaging
We use state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging tools, including cardiac MRI, CCTA, CT, echocardiogram and ultrasound, to pinpoint the location of concern and make treatment recommendations.
Medical devices
Devices such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are helpful for some conditions. These devices help control your heart rate or correct abnormal heart rhythms.
Medical therapy
Medication can sometimes help control symptoms. It can help your heart work better or lower your risk for complications.
Surgery
Surgery allows us to correct heart defects you were born with or conditions that resulted from prior surgeries and interventions on your heart. UW Health surgeons work closely with our adult congenital heart specialists. Our Congenital Heart Program combines the expertise of specialists from multiple teams, backgrounds and disciplines to provide state-of-the-art, innovative care across all ages and for all complex congenital heart conditions.
Procedures we offer
Some of the specific procedures we offer include:
Aortic valve surgical repair or replacement
Aortic valve-sparing surgery
Atrial fibrillation ablation
Atrial septal defect repair
Cardiac resynchronization therapy
Cardioversion
Cryoablation
Coarctation of Aorta repair
Endografts for aortic disease
Fontan revision
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
Laser lead extraction
Left atrial appendage closure (Watchman implant)
Mitral valve repair or replacement
Pacemakers
Pulmonary artery reconstruction (surgical or stents)
Pulmonary valve repair or replacement
Radiofrequency ablation
Ross procedure
Subaortic resection surgery
Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (open surgery)
Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (endovascular graft)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement
Tricuspid valve repair or replacement
Valve repair or replacement surgery (minimally invasive)
Valvuloplasty
Ventricular septal defect repair
Research and clinical trials
At UW Health, finding better ways to help our patients is one of our goals. We have a team of hundreds of doctors, researchers and others dedicated to helping patients improve their health. They work together to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease, including congenital heart conditions.
As our patient, you may have access to tests, treatments and therapies that other people may not.
Congenital heart disease can have a big impact on your life. We work to address all the challenges it can bring. With helpful clinics and services, we provide the most advanced monitoring and treatments. We also make sure you have the right support. Our goal is to make your condition easier to manage.
Cardiac genetic counseling
Some types of congenital heart disease run in families. At UW Health, you have access to something patients in most other programs don’t: A cardiac genetic counselor. The counselor can help you determine if other family members should be tested. The sooner a family member is diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated.
Cardiac rehabilitation
We offer inpatient rehabilitation for those who receive heart care in the hospital. We also offer outpatient rehabilitation. These services help you build your strength and endurance and increase your activity if you have heart issues. We also give you tips for heart-healthy living.
Cardiac wellness and nutrition
Coaching and counseling on nutrition, exercise and mental health play a key role in both your heart health and overall health. Through a variety of approaches, the Wellness Center offers education to help develop lifestyle habits for long-term heart health.
Electrophysiology program
This program uses special tests to diagnose heart rhythm problems.
Heart Failure Management Program
This program connects people living with heart failure to top doctors, the latest treatments, education and support services.
Heart Valve Clinic
Through this clinic, we bring together heart and imaging specialists and surgeons. They join forces to offer you the treatments best suited for your type of valve disease.
Inherited Arrhythmia Clinic
Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms. They result from disorders in your heart’s electrical system. Our clinic provides help to patients and families with heart rhythm disorders that are passed on from one generation to the next.
Where you get your care matters. You want expertise, doctors who care and the best results. You’ll find all of that at UW Health. Our specialists are known for their experience in all aspects of congenital heart disease care. Some of our surgeons operate on both children and adults, which is rare. We work to meet your needs so that you can live fully and comfortably.
With clinic locations and services in Madison, Wausau and Green Bay, help is nearby.
University Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
600 Highland Ave /Madison, WI 
(608) 890-5700
Eastpark Medical Center Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
- 4621 Eastpark Blvd /
Madison, WI - (608) 915-0200
Aspirus Wausau Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
- 333 Pine Ridge Blvd /
Wausau, WI - (715) 847-2611
Aurora BayCare Medical Center Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
- 1160 Kepler Dr /
Green Bay, WI - (920) 288-5500
Innovative treatments
At UW Health, we provide a full range of services for conditions affecting your heart and circulatory system. Here, you’ll find expert preventive care, advanced diagnostic tests and innovative treatments.
