Frequently Asked Questions
Pediatric cardiac surgery is a specialized branch of surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital heart defects or acquired heart conditions in children.
Congenital heart defects are conditions that affect the structure of the heart and are present at birth. These defects can include problems with the heart’s walls, valves, or blood vessels, which can lead to blood flow issues and require surgical intervention.
Symptoms like difficulty breathing, poor feeding, cyanosis (bluish skin), excessive sweating, or fatigue during physical activity could be signs of a heart condition. If these symptoms are present, it’s important to consult a pediatrician who may refer the child to a pediatric cardiologist for further evaluation.
Pediatric cardiologists use a 2D echocardiogram to accurately diagnose heart conditions. Based on the results, they can determine whether the child requires medical management, a minimally invasive procedure or a cardiac surgery.
Some common surgeries include:
VSD closure or ASD closure: Closing the hole in the heart
PDA ligation- Blocking the blood leakage from aorta to pulmonary artery
TOF Repair: Surgery changes blue baby to normal
Arterial Switch Operations: For correcting defects like transposition of the great arteries.
Pediatric Heart Valve Surgeries: To repair or replace faulty heart valves.
Neonatal Open-Heart Surgeries: For new born babies with critical congenital heart defects.
Pediatric Heart Transplantations: For children with end-stage heart failure.
While any heart surgery carries some risk, pediatric cardiac surgery has a very high success rate, especially when performed by experienced surgeons. Advances in surgical techniques, medical technologies, and post-operative care have significantly improved outcomes for children undergoing heart surgery.
The duration of surgery depends on the complexity of the procedure. A normal pediatric cardiac surgery takes around 3-4 hours, while more complex operations, such as complex open heartsurgeries , or redo surgeries, may take much longer.
Post-operative recovery can take several days to weeks, depending on the complexity of the surgery. Your child may stay in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) initially for monitoring, followed by hospital stay for continued care and rehabilitation.
Yes, regular follow-up visits with the pediatric cardiac surgeon are essential to monitor your child’s heart function, growth, and development.
The clinical team will guide you through the preparation process. This may include pre-operative tests, fasting instructions, and education on what to expect before, during, and after surgery. You should also prepare your child emotionally by providing age-appropriate explanations of the procedure.
The purpose of the surgery is to help your child lead a healthier and better life. However, there will likely be some activity restrictions at first to ensure proper healing. The length of these restrictions will depend on the type of surgery and how your child progresses in their recovery and will gradually be able to resume normal activities. Follow-up visits will be important to track recovery and make adjustments based on the surgeon’s recommendations.
Yes, the child will have a scar after surgery, as most surgeries involve making an incision. However, the size and visibility of the scar will depend on the type of surgery performed and the healing process. Over time, scars often fade and become less noticeable. The surgical team will provide guidelines on how to care for the incision to promote healing and minimize scarring.