Congenital heart defect corrective surgery

Alternative names:

ASD repair; atrial septal defect repair; coarctation of the aorta repair; heart surgery for children; hypoplastic left heart repair; patent ductus arteriosus ligation; PDA ligation; tetralogy of fallot repair; total anomalous pulmonary artery correction; transposition of great vessels repair; tricuspid atresia repair; truncus arteriosus repair; ventricular septal defect repair; VSD repair

Expectations after surgery:

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

Convalescence:

Most children need to stay in the Intensive Care Unit for 3 to 7 days and stay in the hospital for 5 to 14 days. By the time the child is transferred out of the intensive care unit, most of the tubes and wires have been removed and he is encouraged to resume many of his daily activities. At the time of discharge, the parents are instructed on activity, how to care for the incision and how to give medications their child may need to take such as digoxin, Lasix, Aldactone and Coumadin. The child needs at least several more weeks at home to recover.