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Congenital heart defect corrective surgery

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Alternative Names:

Patent ductus arteriosus ligation; Hypoplastic left heart repair; Tetralogy of Fallot repair; Coarctation of the aorta repair; Heart surgery for children; Atrial septal defect repair; Ventricular septal defect repair; Truncus arteriosus repair; Total anomalous pulmonary artery correction; Transposition of great vessels repair; Tricuspid atresia repair; VSD repair; ASD repair; PDA ligation

Expectations after surgery:

The outcome of heart surgery depends on the child's condition, the type of defect, and the type of surgery. Many children recover completely and lead normal, active lives.

Convalescence:

Most children need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 3 to 7 days and then stay in the hospital for 5 to 14 days. By the time the child is transferred out of the ICU, most of the tubes and wires have been removed and the child is encouraged to resume many of his daily activities.

At the time of discharge, parents are instructed on activity, how to care for the incision, and how to give medications their child may need.

The child needs at least several more weeks at home to recover.

• Review Date: 5/30/2006
• Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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