What are the risks of operating on a child with a congenital heart defect? my child was diagnosed with a congenital valve problem very soon after birth. what are the risks associated with operating on a very young child?

If : If the surgery is performed in a high volume center with good pediatric cardiac surgeons the risks are low. The risks may include some degree of left over valve obstruction or leakage. Very small risk of bleeding, infection. The risks also depend on how sick the child is prior to surgery and which valve is affected. There is also some chance that the involved valve may not be able to be repaired adequately and may have to be replaced with a prosthetic valve. That decision will sometimes have to be taken by the cardiac surgeon on the table in the or.

Benefits vs. risks : The pediatric cardiovascular surgeon will tell you the risks & rates of complications vs. The risks of the heart's having to work extra hard to supply blood & oxygen to the brain & body if the chd is left untreated. Neonatal open heart surgery is done to insure optimal health, growth & development. Tour the cicu, meet the nurses, ask @ pumping & storing breast milk & call on family support.