We perform all type of congenital heart repair procedures. The list of surgery we perform is given below.

Congenital means inborn or existing at birth.  A congenital heart defect is a malformation of the heart existing at birth.  This defect results from the failure of the heart or major blood vessel to mature normally during gestation. 

Heart defects that are fixed during surgery are grouped into two categories: open and closed.  Closed heart surgery implies that the "heart lung machine" or "bypass" machine is not used and the heart is visualized but not cut open.  Open heart surgery implies that the heart needs to be opened in order to repair the defect and therefore the "bypass" machine is used to oxygenate and circulate the blood without using the heart or lungs.  This bypass machine is used so that open heart procedures can be performed safely.

Types of close heart surgery

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
  
  
• Coarctation of the Aorta
  
  
• Blalock-Taussig shunt

Types of open heart surgery

Septal defect

• Atrial Septal Defect
  
  
• Ventricular Septal Defect
  
  
• Atrioventricular Septal Defect

Defects causing obstruction to blood flow

• Pulmonary Stenosis
  
  
• Aortic Stenosis
  
  
• Tetralogy of Fallot

Defects involving the great arteries

• Transposition of the Great Arteries (Arterial Switch)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

PDA refers to an open vessel that allows blood to flow between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.  The ductus arteriosus is open during fetal life to divert blood away from the unused lungs.  Normally the ductus closes within the first day of life, but for unknown reasons it sometimes remains open.  This occurrence is more common in premature infants.  If the PDA is small, there may be no symptoms at all.  Symptoms of a large PDA are rapid breathing, fatigue, and slow weight gain.  After surgical correction, these symptoms will disappear.  The surgery involves a left thoracotomy incision.  The vessel is "ligated" and divided in half or clipped so that there will be no flow.  This is a curative operation; no other surgery is required [top]

Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of the Aorta is a narrowing of the aorta.  It may present itself as early as birth or in late childhood.  The signs are usually high blood pressure, or a higher blood pressure in the arms than in the legs.  Older children sometimes complain of leg cramps.  Surgery to correct this will equalize the blood pressure in the upper and lower extremities.  The surgery involves opening the chest through a left thoracotomy incision, removing the narrowed portion of the aorta, and reattaching the two ends of the aorta together.  This is also a curative operation. [top]

Blalock-Taussig Shunt

A Blalock-Taussig Shunt or "BT Shunt" is used to help increase blood flow to the lungs in babies born with defects that obstruct blood flow to the lungs.  The surgery entails opening the chest either through a left or a right thoracotomy approach and placing a Gore-Tex tube form the innominate artery to the pulmonary artery.  This is a palliative procedure, meaning that in most cases the final repair will be done at a later date. [top]

Atrial Septal Defect

Atrial Septal Defect or "ASD" is a hole between the right and left atria.  The operation is performed through a midline sternotomy incision.  The right atrium is opened and the hole is sewn closed. [top]

Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular Septal Defect or "VSD" is a hole between the right and left ventricles.  It is repaired by making a midline incision as described above, opening the heart, and sewing in a patch of Gore-Tex to close the defect. [top]

Atrioventricular Septal Defect

Atrioventricular Septal Defect or "AV Canal" encompasses a combination of defects.  Usually the Atrial septum, the ventricular septum, and the atrioventricular, or mitral valve are affected.  Surgery is curative.  The procedure involves closing the Atrial Septal defect with a patch made from the child's own pericardium, closing the ventricular septal defect with a patch of Gore-Tex, and repairing the valve if it is abnormal. [top]

Pulmonary Stenosis

Pulmonary Stenosis: The Pulmonary valve allows blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.  Stenosis can occur at the level of the valve or directly below it (subpulmonary Stenosis).  For pulmonary valve Stenosis, a "Valvotomy" is performed, which means surgically opening the valve, to relieve the obstruction.  For subpulmonic Stenosis, the obstructive tissue below the valve is removed.  Both of these operations are performed through a midline sternotomy incision. [top]

Aortic Stenosis

Aortic Stenosis: The aortic valve allows blood to flow from the left ventricle to the body.  Stenosis can occur at or below the valve.  This Stenosis impedes blood flow to the body.  Valvular Stenosis surgery involves opening the valve to relieve this obstruction.  Subaortic Stenosis surgery involves opening the aorta and working through the aortic valve to remove the obstruction that lies just below the aortic valve. [top]

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect containing four components:

1. Ventricular Septal defect (VSD)
   
   
2. Pulmonary Stenosis
   
   
3. Right Ventricular hypertrophy - the right ventricle becomes more muscular than normal because it must pump against the obstructed outflow tract.
   
   
4. Overriding Aorta - the aorta, rather than sitting in its normal position coming from the left ventricle, sits over or "overrides" the ventricular septal defect.

This defect may cause cyanosis (blue spells), fainting spells, and rapid breathing, resulting form a decrease in blood flow to the lungs.  The surgery may be either a staged approach or a complete repair at the first operation. The staged operation involves doing a Blalock-Taussig Shunt until the baby is ready for a complete repair.  The complete repair involves removing the pulmonary outflow obstruction, closing the ventricular Septal defect, and if the pulmonary artery is too small, enlarging it with a patch. [top]

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) 

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)  implies that the position of the pulmonary artery and the aorta are reversed.  Therefore, the pulmonary artery is attached to the left ventricle and the aorta is attached to the right ventricle.  This results in abnormal circulation of blood.  These babies usually become blue a few hours after birth.  Surgical intervention is curative.  The procedure used is the "Arterial Switch Operation".  The operation is performed through a midline sternotomy incision.  The pulmonary artery and the aorta are "switched" back to their normal positions and the coronary arteries are attached to the new aorta in the correct positions. [top]