Congenital Heart Surgery
Congenital heart surgery corrects structural defects of the heart or its major vessels that are present from birth — such as holes between the chambers, narrowed or misconnected vessels, or valve abnormalities. It is performed in newborns, children and adults by a specialized team and aims to restore normal blood flow and protect long-term heart function and growth.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Congenital heart defects are abnormalities in the heart's structure that develop before birth. They range from relatively simple problems, such as a hole between two chambers (a septal defect), to complex combinations affecting several parts of the heart. Some are found in newborns, others not until childhood or adulthood. Surgery — sometimes alongside catheter-based procedures — repairs the defect to restore normal blood flow.
Care is delivered by a specialized congenital heart team — pediatric and adult congenital cardiologists, congenital heart surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensive-care specialists — because these conditions differ from acquired adult heart disease and require dedicated expertise across the patient's lifetime. The timing and type of surgery are tailored to the specific defect, the patient's age and size, and overall health.
International families are supported by a coordinator with a clear plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before travel, including the expected stay and follow-up. Our specialists can review echocardiograms, imaging and reports remotely first, which is especially valuable for complex or previously operated cases.
Who is a candidate?
- Newborns and children with a heart defect identified before or after birth
- Children with holes between the heart chambers, valve defects or narrowed vessels
- Adults with a congenital defect not previously repaired, or needing further surgery
- Patients with complex defects requiring staged surgical correction over time
- Those well enough for the planned operation, as assessed by the congenital heart team
- Families seeking a specialist second opinion on a congenital diagnosis or proposed surgery
What happens
- 1
Diagnosis and planning
Echocardiography and, where needed, advanced imaging define the defect precisely. The congenital heart team agrees the timing and type of repair with the family, weighing surgery and catheter-based options.
- 2
Preparation
The child or adult is prepared for general anesthesia, with care tailored to age and size. The team explains the operation, the time in intensive care and the expected recovery to the family.
- 3
The operation
Under general anesthesia, often with the support of a heart-lung machine, the surgeon repairs the defect — for example closing a hole, repairing a valve or reconstructing a vessel.
- 4
Intensive-care recovery
Recovery begins in a dedicated cardiac intensive-care unit experienced in congenital cases, where heart function, breathing and circulation are monitored closely before moving to a ward.
- 5
Follow-up for life
Congenital heart conditions need lifelong specialist follow-up to monitor heart function and growth. International families receive a clear follow-up plan and can be supported remotely after returning home.
Benefits
- Repairs structural heart defects to restore normal blood flow
- Protects long-term heart function and, in children, healthy growth
- Delivered by a dedicated congenital heart team with lifelong expertise
- Combines surgical and, where suitable, catheter-based techniques
- Many defects, including complex ones, can be repaired with good long-term outcomes
Risks & considerations
- Bleeding, infection and reaction to anesthesia, as with any major heart surgery
- Heart-rhythm disturbances, which the team monitors and manages
- The need for staged operations or further procedures for complex defects over time
- A recovery in intensive care and a period of careful follow-up afterwards
- Lifelong cardiology follow-up to monitor the repair and heart function
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Heart Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Congenital Heart Surgery — frequently asked questions
It treats structural heart problems present from birth — such as holes between the chambers, narrowed or misconnected major vessels and valve abnormalities — in newborns, children and adults, restoring normal blood flow.
Yes. Some defects are first treated, or need further surgery, in adulthood. A specialized adult congenital heart team manages these cases, which differ from ordinary acquired adult heart disease.
For complex defects, surgery is sometimes staged over time, with more than one procedure planned as the child grows. Your team explains the expected sequence for your child's specific defect.
Yes. Send the echocardiogram, imaging and reports and our congenital heart specialists provide an independent opinion remotely, which is especially helpful for complex or previously operated cases, before you commit to travel.
It varies with the defect — often around one to two weeks in hospital, longer for complex cases, plus follow-up before flying. Your coordinator confirms the plan. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing the case, rather than a fixed online price, because every congenital case is individual.
Related treatments
Considering congenital heart surgery?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.