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Congenital heart defect corrective surgery
Overview Recovery Risks
Alternative Names:
Patent ductus arteriosus ligation; Hypoplastic left heart repair; Tetralogy of Fallot repair; Coarctation of the aorta repair; Heart surgery for children; Atrial septal defect repair; Ventricular septal defect repair; Truncus arteriosus repair; Total anomalous pulmonary artery correction; Transposition of great vessels repair; Tricuspid atresia repair; VSD repair; ASD repair; PDA ligation
Expectations after surgery:
The outcome of heart surgery depends on the child's condition, the type of defect, and the type of surgery. Many children recover completely and lead normal, active lives.
Convalescence:

Most children need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 3 to 7 days and then stay in the hospital for 5 to 14 days. By the time the child is transferred out of the ICU, most of the tubes and wires have been removed and the child is encouraged to resume many of his daily activities.

At the time of discharge, parents are instructed on activity, how to care for the incision, and how to give medications their child may need.

The child needs at least several more weeks at home to recover.
Heart, section through the middle
Heart, section through the middle 		Cardiac catheterization
Cardiac catheterization 		Heart, front view
Heart, front view 		Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat 		Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) - series
Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) - series
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