Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children has launched a dedicated Grown-up Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH)/Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Clinic, aimed at providing lifelong cardiac care to adults who were diagnosed or treated for congenital heart disease during childhood.
Bridging Childhood and Adult Cardiac Care
Advances in cardiac surgery, catheter-based interventions and intensive care have enabled more children with congenital heart disease to survive into adulthood. However, childhood treatment does not always eliminate the need for long-term monitoring.
The new clinic will provide cardiac assessments, investigations, counselling, risk evaluation and timely interventions. Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Kshitij Sheth and Adult Cardiologist Dr. Hetan Shah will jointly oversee the service to ensure a smooth transition from paediatric to adult care.
Focus on Lifelong Monitoring
Congenital heart disease can lead to residual or recurring problems even after successful childhood treatment. As per the hospital’s press release, Wadia Hospital currently follows 15–20 adult congenital heart patients, while the new clinic will also help reconnect adults who discontinued follow-up.
“Congenital heart disease is a condition that begins at birth, but the need for cardiac care may continue well beyond childhood,” said Dr. Kshitij Sheth, highlighting the importance of structured lifelong care.
Multidisciplinary Care
The clinic will build on Wadia Hospital’s existing cardiac facilities and provide ECG, echocardiography, cardiac imaging, functional assessment and arrhythmia evaluation, with access to interventional and surgical expertise when required.
Dr. Hetan Shah stressed that patients should not assume follow-up is unnecessary simply because they feel well. Some complications may develop silently and can be detected through regular specialist assessments.
Treating More Than 1,000 Children Annually
Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO, Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, said the hospital’s Paediatric Cardiology Department treats more than 1,000 children every year.
She added that the new clinic will help ensure that patients who benefited from advances in paediatric cardiac care continue to receive specialised support as they transition into adulthood.