ACHD for the Primary Care Provider

Guest: Maan Jokhadar, M.D. Host: Malcolm Bell, M.D. This is the second of three episodes on adult congenital heart disease. Be sure to go back and listen to episode one, “The Hospitalized ACHD Patient.” In this episode, listeners will hear a primer on caring for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) in the primary care setting. Dr. Malcolm Bell and Dr. Maan Jokhadar discuss when ACHD patients should be referred for specialized evaluation, how to locate clinics, and which symptoms should raise concern. Key practical tips are shared to help avoid common pitfalls and ensure safe, effective care for this unique patient population. Topics Discussed: • Do all patients with CHD need to be seen in anACHD clinic? • How to locate ACHD clinic? • What are some alarm symptoms for ACHD? • Common pitfalls to avoid Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on X @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices. LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services Cardiovascular Education App: The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today! No CME credit offered for this episode. Recorded on: 04-November-2025 00:00 Welcome and series intro 00:46 Guest intro: Dr. Maan Jokhadar (adult congenital heart disease) 01:14 Why adult congenital heart disease patients should be (re)seen in a specialty clinic 02:45 Practical referral thinking: who’s “lost to follow-up” and why a one-time review matters 04:46 Common primary care scenario: fever / nonspecific symptoms 06:54 Antibiotics: when to hold off, when to escalate 08:07 Medication pitfalls in ACHD 09:39 Most common missteps in primary care 10:29 Top pitfalls/red flags: antibiotics before cultures, NSAID risk, palpitations vs panic (arrhythmia) 11:23 Where to find specialized care: ACHA national directory (ACHAheart.org) 12:55 Closing / end of episode