The most common types of minor congenital heart defects diagnosed in adults are: Septal Defects (“holes in the heart”)Ī septal defect (see illustration) can occur between the two ventricles (pumping chambers) of the heart, called a ventricular septal defect, or between the two atria (filling chambers), called an atrial septal defect. The Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute takes over the care of patients with congenital heart defects once they become adults. Occasionally, an adult will experience symptoms of a more complicated defect for the first time as an adult. Because repaired congenital heart defects can still cause problems later on, patients with a defect repaired in childhood need regular follow-up cardiac care throughout their lives. These defects are usually discovered in infancy or early childhood due to symptoms and may be surgically repaired at that time.Īdult congenital heart disease normally takes one of two forms: a defect with no symptoms early in life that becomes associated with symptoms later on, or a complex defect repaired during childhood that requires further repair or new treatment in adulthood. Some congenital heart defects are very minor and will never cause health problems. A congenital heart defect is a malformation of the heart that is present at birth.