Pediatric Heart Surgery

Pediatric heart surgery is performed to correct or treat birth defects of the heart (congenital heart disease) that threaten the child's well-being or life.

Definition of Pediatric Heart Surgery:

Heart defects come in all types, from minor to major. Defects can occur inside the heart or in the large blood vessels outside the heart. The heart defect may need immediate pediatric heart surgery or may be able to safely wait for months or years. In most cases, the timing of the pediatric heart surgery will depend on how sick the baby is.

The heart defect may be repaired in a single surgical procedure or may require a series of procedures. Pediatric heart surgery may involve opening the heart to repair defects or repairing defects of the blood vessels.

Pediatric heart surgery requires intensive and extensive monitoring, treatment and coordination by the entire team. Pediatric heart surgery in children may take as many as 12 hours in the operating room.

After pediatric heart surgery, the child will be moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be constantly and closely monitored and treated for several days.

Learn more about pediatric heart surgery at the Brenner Children’s Hospital web site.

Pediatric Heart Surgery