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Adult Congenital Heart Clinic

With an estimated 10,000 Albertans affected, a vital and growing community of adults is living with congenital heart disease

Stethoscope in drs pocketEdmonton cardiologists have been repairing the hearts of infants and children for more than 50 years. In that time, many lives have been saved, and the community of adults living with congenital heart disease continues to grow. Congenital defects can be complex; however, experts believe health risks can be reduced and outcomes improved if coordinated care is provided.

At the Northern Alberta Adult Congenital Heart Clinic (NAACH), patients receive that specialized care and long-term management. The clinic provides diagnostic services to adult patients with newly recognized congenital heart disease and long-term follow-up of pediatric-come-adult cardiology patients. NAACH provides services to residents of Edmonton and area, Northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, as well as Northern B.C., and Saskatchewan.

NAACH is part of the Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Network. The Network is a collaboration of 14 Canadian facilities that each provide comprehensive care and information to adult patients with congenital heart disease.  Currently, NAACH is located at the University of Alberta Hospital but will move to the heart institute later this year.

In Edmonton, patients are seen by a cardiologist and have diagnostic procedures completed, including echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram, intravascular ultrasound, cardiac catheterization, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and  positron emission tomography (PET) scan.

Referral Information
An adult patient is referred to the clinic through his/her family physician, former pediatrician, or specialist to one of the clinic's cardiologists: Dr. Dylan Taylor and Dr. Isabelle Vonder Muhll. The clinic's electrophysiology expert, Dr. Michael Kantoch, sees patients on request by Dr. Taylor and Dr. Vonder Muhll.

To refer a patient, physicians may fax an informal letter with the patient's most recent assessment information, any diagnostic concerns, and patient contact information to (780) 407-3310.

Contact Information for Patients
Once the referral is received by NAACH, patients are contacted by the central booking office or clinic staff to set an appointment date. If the patient needs to reschedule, he or she contacts the cardiologist's office directly:

Dr. Dylan Taylor: (780) 407-6827
Dr. Isabelle Vonder Muhll: (780) 407-1857

Location
The NAACH clinic is located on the fourth floor within the Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Clinic at 4C2 in the Walter C. Mackenzie Centre. Please see the Level 4 map, for more information.

Parking
Public parking is available at metered, underground, surface, and parkade lots on site. For information on hourly, weekly, and monthly parking, as well as locations, please see the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute information sheet.

About congenital heart disease
Congenital means "present at birth;" congenital heart disease is a defect in the heart that is present at birth.

Approximately one per cent of the population is born with a congenital heart defect. Some can be life threatening and require surgery early in life, and others may never require medical treatment.

Congenital defects are wide ranging and can include a combination of problems. These may include holes in the heart, problems with the structure, function, or position of valves, vessels, and heart chambers.

Although most cases of congenital heart disease are diagnosed during infancy and childhood, approximately 10 per cent of cases are diagnosed during adulthood. If symptoms are present, they may include shortness of breath or low tolerance to exercise.
Where can I find more information?

Capital Health and other organizations support online resources on congenital heart disease and heart health. These resources should be used as a general guideline only. Individual assessment, interpretations, and advice by your cardiologist should always be your most important resource.

For more information, please see:

 

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