Washington Adult Congenital Heart Program (WACH)

Comprehensive Care

WACH meets the unique needs of adult patients with congenital heart disease by providing all the necessary resources and highly sophisticated care in a central location.

More than 90 percent of children who undergo surgery to correct congenital heart defects live to adulthood; however, nearly 50 percent of these survivors do not seek the regular cardiac care, which is critical for their health.

Studies and clinical information show that adult survivors face an increased risk of cardiac conditions years after corrective surgery. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot, aortic stenosis, coarctation, and transposition of the great arteries are at the highest risk. The original surgeries were the first of their kind, so no long-term history was known when they were performed. National guidelines from a variety of professional organizations all suggest at least one evaluation in a specialized center for adults with congenital (inborn) heart disease.

The program team follows patients from birth through adulthood to ensure care is provided from board-certified pediatric and adult cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, intensive-care experts, and a skilled support team, all of whom are specially trained in caring for congenital heart disease patients.

A Partnership for Patients

The partnership between Children's National and the MedStar Washington Hospital Center continues an informal relationship developed several years ago by the hospitals, situated on adjoining campuses.

Established in 2001, the Washington Adult Congenital Heart Program is the oldest and largest adult congenital heart program in the Washington, D.C., region. The WACH Program works collaboratively with the Heart Institute’s pediatric cardiologists to provide seamless care. Anitha John, M.D., Ph.D., has served as the Program Director since 2011, after having completed a specialized fellowship at the Mayo Clinic dedicated to the management of congenital heart defects in adult patients. Seiji Ito, M.D., joined the team in 2015 after completing advanced training in adult congenital heart disease at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

By combining intellectual resources and technology from both institutions, such as cardiac MRI, cardiac catheterization, and electrophysiology services, doctors provide the most thorough evaluations and treatment for complex congenital heart patients.