Congenital Heart Disease

The Yasmin & Amir Virani Provincial Adult Congenital Heart Program (VPACH) provides care for adults with congenital heart disease. The Heritable Aortopathies clinic (HAC) provides assessments, care and follow up for people with a wide range of genetic disorders that stretch or weaken the aorta.

Yasmin & Amir Virani Provincial Adult Congenital Heart Program (VPACH)

The VPACH clinic’s multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, psychologists and social workers provide clinical expertise to patients 18 years and older with congenital heart disease. Individuals who are newly diagnosed with congenital heart disease and those transitioning from pediatric programs receive ongoing follow-up and care for their cardiac condition.

Patients must be referred by a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or specialist. Clinics are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

What to bring to your visit

  • Personal medical history
  • Family history of cardiac illnesses
  • List of current medications and your BC Care Card
  • Names of additional medical care providers that you see
  • Questions and concerns that you would like addressed by the team

Disease Information

Congenital heart disease is a category of heart disease that includes various abnormalities in the structure of the heart and/or blood vessels that occur before birth. These include:

  • Abnormal connections between heart chambers
  • Blood vessels connected in abnormal positions
  • Abnormal heart valves
  • Blockages within heart structures

Many patients with congenital heart conditions will have had surgery and/or medical interventions during childhood.

For more information, we recommend the following websites:

The Canadian Adult Congenital Heart (CACH) Network

Cove Point Foundation 

Patient Information

Patients with congenital heart conditions usually require long-term follow up from a cardiac team that specializes in the management of congenital heart conditions. You can expect that your appointment will include:

  • Tests to evaluate your heart and its function
  • Assessment and education to support you in managing your heart condition
  • Assessment and evaluation from a Cardiologist specializing in congenital heart conditions who will plan with you how to best manage your heart condition.

Contact Information

St. Paul’s Hospital
Room 5051, Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6
Email: pach@providencehealth.bc.ca
Phone: 604-806-8520
Fax: 604-806-8800

Heritable Aortopathies Clinic (HAC)

The Heritable Aortopathies Clinic (HAC) provides assessments, care and follow up for people with a wide range of genetic disorders that stretch or weaken the aorta (e.g. Loey Dietz, Marfan Syndrome). The team includes doctors, nurses, a genetic counsellor and other health care professionals and specialists at St Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

The Heritable Aortopathies Clinic:

  • Provides medical and surgical care of enlarged blood vessels (aneurysms), taking into consideration each patient’s specific diagnosis
  • Helps with a wide range of possible medical problems arising from stretchy or weakened connective tissue
  • Provides psychological support and counseling through times of stress

What to bring to your visit

  • Personal medical history
  • Family history of cardiac illnesses
  • List of current medications and your BC care card
  • Names of additional medical care providers that you see
  • Questions and concerns that you would like addressed by the team

Disease Information

Heritable aortopathies are conditions that affect the size of the aorta and make it vulnerable to aneurysms and rupture. Conditions that affect the aorta may also affect many other systems of the body.

For more information, we recommend the following websites:

The Marfan Foundation

Canadian Marfan Foundation

Patient Information

Patients with heritable aortopathies require frequent and regular follow up from a cardiac team that specializes in the management these conditions. You can expect that your appointment will include:

  • Tests to evaluate your heart and its function
  • Assessment and education to support you in managing your condition
  • Assessment and evaluation from a Cardiologist specializing in aortopathies who will plan with you how to best manage your condition
  • Evaluation of family history for potential inheritance and recommendations for genetic testing from a Genetic Counsellor 

Contact Information

St. Paul’s Hospital
Room 5051, Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6
Email: SPHHAC@providencehealth.bc.ca
Phone: 604-806-8520 Ext. 6
Fax: 604-602-8644