Rochester, Minnesota · United States
cardiac surgeon
Joseph A. Dearani →
Dearani’s Mayo practice includes paediatric and adult congenital surgery, congenital valve repair and Ebstein anomaly.
Sources: Mayo Clinic · Joseph Dearani
Congenital heart disease · Decision guide
Congenital heart surgery: children and adults
Find the right congenital team, understand why age and previous repairs matter, and prepare a defect-specific review.
At a glance
Congenital heart conditions need a team matched to the defect and the patient’s age. Some openings or narrowed valves can be treated by catheter; others require reconstruction or ongoing monitoring.
The exact defect determines the route
ASD, VSD, pulmonary stenosis and complex congenital anatomy are different treatment problems.
Sources: Types of congenital heart defects
Adults still need congenital expertise
Childhood repair does not eliminate later valve, rhythm or reoperation needs.
Specialist programmes are linked below
Boston Children’s, Columbia and Mayo profiles describe different paediatric and adult congenital expertise.
Find a congenital heart team
Free Bookimed support. Compare options before deciding.
Benefits and trade-offs
Potential advantages
- Specialist congenital care can coordinate anatomy, surgery or catheter treatment and longer-term follow-up.
Trade-offs and limits
- Results from one congenital operation or age group cannot represent all congenital surgery. Prior repairs and complex anatomy change the plan.
Start with the exact defect
These are starting points within a shared congenital guide; they do not yet have five separate detailed articles. Complex defects need their own specialist interpretation.
| Examples in a report | What the review should clarify |
|---|---|
| Atrial septal defect (ASD) | Location and anatomy of the opening, its effect on the heart and whether intervention is needed |
| Ventricular septal defect (VSD) | Size, location and associated abnormalities |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) | Its effect on circulation and suitable treatment route |
| Pulmonary stenosis | Site of narrowing and valve or vessel anatomy |
| Tetralogy of Fallot or complex anatomy | The full set of abnormalities and the previous or planned stages of care |
Sources: Types of congenital heart defects
Children and adults have different care needs
The NHS describes specialist referral, monitoring and treatment ranging from medicines to surgery according to the condition. Adults still need congenital expertise after childhood repair; later valve, rhythm or other interventions may be necessary.
Sources: Congenital heart disease · ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)
Why specialist congenital care is different
The same defect can need different management in an infant, an older child or an adult after previous repair. A congenital programme combines surgical and cardiology expertise with the history of the whole heart.
- A first repair and reoperation involve different anatomy and risk.
- Residual valve disease, rhythm problems and earlier conduits or implants can become the main issue in adulthood.
- Long-term surveillance continues even after a successful childhood operation.
Sources: ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025) · Congenital heart disease
Bring the history of the whole heart
The specialist section below links dedicated congenital programmes at Boston Children’s, Columbia and Mayo. Congenital expertise depends on the defect and age group: newborn repair, childhood reoperation and adult congenital surgery involve different anatomy and care pathways.
- Diagnosis, echo and other imaging with actual image files.
- Prior operation and catheter-procedure reports, including implant details.
- Current medicines, symptoms and the latest specialist assessment.
- For a child: age, weight and the team’s advised timing. For an adult: the childhood repair history if available.
Specialists for this treatment pathway
Explore each specialist’s clinical focus, current programme and the studies relevant to this treatment. The listed roles include cardiac surgeons and, where appropriate, interventional cardiologists.
Boston · United States
cardiac surgeon
Sitaram Emani →
Emani’s Boston Children’s programme assesses whether complex ventricular and outflow anatomy can support a two-ventricle repair.
Sources: Biventricular repair linked to better outcomes in superior-inferior ventricles treatment · Sitaram Emani — research and clinician directory
New York · United States
cardiac surgeon
Emile A. Bacha →
Bacha’s Columbia practice spans paediatric and adult congenital surgery, including valve reconstruction and complex neonatal repair.
Sources: Emile A. Bacha, MD — surgeon profile · Pediatric Heart Surgery at Columbia
Continue your guide