About heart surgery
Families of patients referred to the cardiovascular-thoracic surgeons are scheduled for a family consultation. In this visit, the surgeon may use anatomical models and drawings to illustrate the defect and describe the needed corrective procedure. Families are encouraged to ask questions, and the decision to perform surgery is always made with the referring physician. Surgical consultations are usually scheduled within a week of the initial call.
Surgery for congenital heart defects usually falls into one of three categories: closed corrective surgery, open-heart corrective surgery, or palliative surgery.
- Closed corrective surgery does not require use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because there is no need to open the heart to repair the defect. Typical procedures include ligation and division of patent ductus arteriosus, repair of coarctation of the aorta and repair of vascular rings.
- Open-heart corrective surgery is used to correct defects inside the heart. During these procedures, CPB is used to supply oxygen to the blood and pump blood through the body, bypassing the heart and lungs. Some children require hypothermia, which lowers the body temperature and allows the surgeon to stop all blood circulation to safely repair the heart.
- Palliative surgery is used almost exclusively in the treatment of complex defects that are not suited to early correction. In these cases, a staged approach to treatment is more effective. Palliative surgery provides a bridge to prepare the heart for eventual complete repair.
If the family decides to proceed with surgery, the procedure is scheduled and the referring cardiologist is notified of the date.
Surgery dates are scheduled anywhere from two weeks to several months in advance, and summer is typically the busiest time of the year. Surgery schedules are subject to change in the event of an emergency or if the child has a cold or fever.