Overview
Many patients with congenital heart disease also have pulmonary hypertension. This can have a big impact on their quality of life. Cleveland Clinic’s Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic includes adult congenital heart disease specialists and pulmonary hypertension specialists who work together to create a plan of care to meet the individual needs and improve the quality of life for these patients.
Resources
Consult QD
What We Treat
Specialists in the Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic can help patients with pulmonary hypertension linked to many conditions, such as:
- Atrial septal defects
- Ventricular septal defects
- Aorta disease
- Pulmonary vascular disease
- Common arterial trunk
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Complex congenital defects, including Fontan circulation/physiology
- Patent ductus arteriosus
Our Doctors
Pulmonary Hypertension
Neal Chaisson, MD
Mindy Rivera, CNS
Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Interventional Cardiology
Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Noninvasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Specialists in other areas, including genetic counseling, also work with patients as needed.
Appointments
The Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic is located at Desk A11, on the 11th floor of the George Crile Building (A Building).
To make an appointment, please call 216.444.7943. Our team will discuss with you the best way to obtain your records for our review prior to your appointment. Depending on your unique situation we may be able to view your records electronically via our EPIC and Care Everywhere systems or may need to request that your records be faxed and/or mailed to our office. These records may include your medical history, test results and films (echocardiogram, right heart catheterization, ultrasound, chest X-ray, MRI, CT scan, etc.).
If instructed to fax records, please send them to our secure fax line at 216.636.2281.
You may also be asked to speak with our cardiology team to obtain copies (images) of additional cardiac studies such as MRI, left heart catheterization, or others. Contact Julia Serrano at 216.444.5923
If mailing records, please send all information in the same package (clearly marked with your name and address) via Airborne Express, Federal Express, or certified U.S. mail (make sure you have a tracking number) to:
Adult Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
Attention: Mindy Rivera, CNS
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue – Desk A-11
Cleveland, OH 44195
What to expect during your appointment
To ensure you get the answers you need, we will review your records before your appointment. Based on your condition and history, you may need additional testing. If so, we will schedule these tests for you around the time of your appointment and make sure you know what to expect and how to get to each one. Please arrange to stay in the Cleveland area for one to two days to complete your appointment and any necessary testing.
Once you arrive at the Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, You will meet with an advanced practice nurse who will ask for information, about you and your medical history.
Next, you’ll meet with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension experts. They will talk to you about your health and do a physical exam. Depending on your medical history, you may need to see other experts during your visit. These include dietitians,, respiratory therapists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons, behavioral health specialists and palliative medicine specialists. Our goal is to learn about you and create a personalized, comprehensive plan of care for you to follow after you go home.
Follow-up
We will let you know, based on your evaluation and plan of care, how often you need to have follow-up appointments. You may be able to follow-up with virtual visits.
Travel to the Cleveland Clinic
We want to make traveling to Cleveland Clinic as easy as possible. Get helpful information and driving instructions.
Medical Concierge: Complimentary assistance for out-of-state patients and families. Call toll-free at 800.223.2273, ext. 55580 or email medicalconcierge@ccf.org.
Learn more about our medical concierge program.
More Information
For more information, please reach out to our Pulmonary Hypertension team at 216.445.9955, extension 4. Additional information can be found at:
