{"schema_version":"bookimed.page-context.v1","id":"congenital-heart-surgery","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/congenital-heart-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/congenital-heart-surgery.json","index_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/index.json","full_dataset_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/content.json","content_revision":"source-driven-rankings-20261008","date_modified":"2026-10-08","language":"en","kind":"guide","title":"Congenital heart surgery: children and adults","summary":"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.","research_credit":{"name":"Yevhenii Kozlov","role":"Co-Founder of Bookimed","url":"https://us-uk.bookimed.com/ceo/kozlov/","contribution":"Research personally prepared and reviewed","assistance":"AI tools assisted source research."},"editorial_scope":"Source-based patient information; an individual treatment plan requires clinical review.","research_method":"How this guide is researched and compared Research project led by Yevhenii Kozlov . We link clinical guidance, primary studies and named hospital or offer sources beside the relevant statements. Comparisons distinguish individual operators from programme results and preserve the study population, follow-up and limitations. Prices are dated examples with their stated scope. Research and editorial preparation are separate from clinical review; no named clinician has medically reviewed this edition. Bookimed provides care coordination. Partner and reference programmes are identified from their sources; paid ordering is not used in our published-cohort comparison. Read the editorial policy .","key_takeaways":[{"label":"The exact defect determines the route","text":"ASD, VSD, pulmonary stenosis and complex congenital anatomy are different treatment problems.","sources":["D03"]},{"label":"Adults still need congenital expertise","text":"Childhood repair does not eliminate later valve, rhythm or reoperation needs.","sources":["C14"]},{"label":"Specialist programmes are linked below","text":"Boston Children’s, Columbia and Mayo profiles describe different paediatric and adult congenital expertise.","sources":[]}],"benefits":[{"text":"Specialist congenital care can coordinate anatomy, surgery or catheter treatment and longer-term follow-up.","sources":["C14"]}],"limitations":[{"text":"Results from one congenital operation or age group cannot represent all congenital surgery. Prior repairs and complex anatomy change the plan.","sources":["C14"]}],"sections":[{"id":"benefit-balance","title":"Benefits and trade-offs","text":"Benefits and trade-offs Potential advantages Specialist congenital care can coordinate anatomy, surgery or catheter treatment and longer-term follow-up. Sources: ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025) 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. Sources: ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)","links":[{"label":"ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)","url":"https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/12/18/18/48/ACCAHA-issue-new-guideline-on-managing-congenital-heart-disease-in-adults"},{"label":"ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)","url":"https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/12/18/18/48/ACCAHA-issue-new-guideline-on-managing-congenital-heart-disease-in-adults"}]},{"id":"defects","title":"Start with the exact defect","text":"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","links":[{"label":"Types of congenital heart defects","url":"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/congenital-heart-defects/types"}],"tables":[[["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"]]]},{"id":"age","title":"Children and adults have different care needs","text":"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)","links":[{"label":"Congenital heart disease","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/congenital-heart-disease/"},{"label":"ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)","url":"https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/12/18/18/48/ACCAHA-issue-new-guideline-on-managing-congenital-heart-disease-in-adults"}]},{"id":"comparison","title":"Why specialist congenital care is different","text":"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","links":[{"label":"ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025)","url":"https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/12/18/18/48/ACCAHA-issue-new-guideline-on-managing-congenital-heart-disease-in-adults"},{"label":"Congenital heart disease","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/congenital-heart-disease/"}]},{"id":"records","title":"Bring the history of the whole heart","text":"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. Repeat surgery ↗","links":[{"label":"Repeat surgery ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/repeat-heart-surgery/"}]},{"id":"matching-specialists","title":"Specialists for this treatment pathway","text":"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. JD 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. Mayo Clinic Rochester → Sources: Mayo Clinic · Joseph Dearani View expertise and research → Portrait source ↗ 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. Boston Children’s Hospital → Sources: Biventricular repair linked to better outcomes in superior-inferior ventricles treatment · Sitaram Emani — research and clinician directory View expertise and research → Portrait source ↗ 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. Columbia / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital → Sources: Emile A. Bacha, MD — surgeon profile · Pediatric Heart Surgery at Columbia View expertise and research → Browse the full specialist directory →","links":[{"label":"Joseph A. Dearani →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-joseph-dearani/"},{"label":"Mayo Clinic Rochester →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-mayo-rochester/"},{"label":"Mayo Clinic · Joseph Dearani","url":"https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/dearani-joseph-a-m-d/bio-20053326"},{"label":"View expertise and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-joseph-dearani/"},{"label":"Portrait source ↗","url":"https://research.childrenshospital.org/researchers/sitaram-emani"},{"label":"Sitaram Emani →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-sitaram-emani/"},{"label":"Boston Children’s Hospital →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-boston-childrens/"},{"label":"Biventricular repair linked to better outcomes in superior-inferior ventricles treatment","url":"https://answers.childrenshospital.org/specialized-ventricular-surgery/"},{"label":"Sitaram Emani — research and clinician directory","url":"https://research.childrenshospital.org/researchers/sitaram-emani"},{"label":"View expertise and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-sitaram-emani/"},{"label":"Portrait source ↗","url":"https://columbiasurgery.org/emile-bacha-md"},{"label":"Emile A. Bacha →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-emile-bacha/"},{"label":"Columbia / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-columbia-congenital/"},{"label":"Emile A. Bacha, MD — surgeon profile","url":"https://columbiasurgery.org/emile-bacha-md"},{"label":"Pediatric Heart Surgery at Columbia","url":"https://columbiasurgery.org/pediatric-heart"},{"label":"View expertise and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-emile-bacha/"},{"label":"Browse the full specialist directory →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/congenital-heart-surgery-surgeons/"}]}],"introduction":"Heart surgery guide / Congenital heart disease 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. Research by Yevhenii Kozlov · Co-Founder of Bookimed Updated 8 October 2026 Sources linked throughout 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. Sources: ACC/AHA adult congenital guidance (2025) Specialist programmes are linked below Boston Children’s, Columbia and Mayo profiles describe different paediatric and adult congenital expertise.","related_documents":[{"id":"heart-surgery","title":"Heart surgery abroad: treatments, clinics and costs","kind":"home","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/heart-surgery.json"},{"id":"second-opinion","title":"Prepare for a heart surgery second opinion","kind":"inquiry","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/second-opinion/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/second-opinion.json"},{"id":"conditions","title":"Heart conditions: find your diagnosis and treatment guide","kind":"guide","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/conditions/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/conditions.json"},{"id":"heart-rhythm-surgery","title":"Atrial fibrillation surgery: Maze, ablation and appendage closure","kind":"guide","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/heart-rhythm-surgery.json"},{"id":"repeat-heart-surgery","title":"Repeat heart surgery: reoperation and alternative approaches","kind":"guide","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/repeat-heart-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/repeat-heart-surgery.json"},{"id":"doctor-joseph-dearani","title":"Joseph A. Dearani: HCM and congenital heart surgery","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-joseph-dearani/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-joseph-dearani.json"},{"id":"doctor-sitaram-emani","title":"Sitaram Emani: complex biventricular congenital repair","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-sitaram-emani/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-sitaram-emani.json"},{"id":"doctor-emile-bacha","title":"Emile A. Bacha: congenital heart surgery","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-emile-bacha/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-emile-bacha.json"},{"id":"clinic-mayo-rochester","title":"Mayo Clinic Rochester: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-mayo-rochester/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-mayo-rochester.json"},{"id":"clinic-boston-childrens","title":"Boston Children’s Hospital: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-boston-childrens/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-boston-childrens.json"},{"id":"clinic-columbia-congenital","title":"Columbia / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-columbia-congenital/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-columbia-congenital.json"},{"id":"congenital-heart-surgery-surgeons","title":"Congenital heart surgeons","kind":"specialist-directory","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/congenital-heart-surgery-surgeons/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/congenital-heart-surgery-surgeons.json"}],"sources":{"C14":{"id":"C14","title":"ACC/AHA issue new guideline on managing congenital heart disease in adults","url":"https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/12/18/18/48/ACCAHA-issue-new-guideline-on-managing-congenital-heart-disease-in-adults","publisher":"American College of Cardiology","published":"2025-12-18","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Official guideline release"},"D02":{"id":"D02","title":"Congenital heart disease","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/congenital-heart-disease/","publisher":"NHS","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Official medical information or guideline"},"D03":{"id":"D03","title":"Types of congenital heart defects","url":"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/congenital-heart-defects/types","publisher":"NHLBI","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Official medical information or guideline"},"depth-dearani":{"title":"Mayo Clinic · Joseph Dearani","url":"https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/dearani-joseph-a-m-d/bio-20053326","publisher":"Official hospital / clinical programme","read_at":"2026-10-08","label":"Mayo Clinic · Joseph Dearani","retrieval":"Official profile body via web search; direct HTTP route returned 403"},"SP01":{"title":"Sitaram Emani — research and clinician directory","publisher":"Boston Children’s Hospital","url":"https://research.childrenshospital.org/researchers/sitaram-emani","read_at":"2026-10-08","source_kind":"official-institution","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/emani-research.txt","supports":"Active institutional affiliation, Harvard professor of surgery, linked clinician profile and publication list.","limitations":"The linked patient profile returned an Incapsula block; current operating role and programme are corroborated by SP02."},"SP02":{"title":"Biventricular repair linked to better outcomes in superior-inferior ventricles treatment","publisher":"Boston Children’s Hospital","url":"https://answers.childrenshospital.org/specialized-ventricular-surgery/","read_at":"2026-10-08","source_kind":"official-institution","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/recovered-official-web.json","supports":"Names Emani as cardiac surgeon and co-director of Complex Biventricular Repair Program; describes operative reconstruction and 3D planning.","limitations":"Institutional explanation of research, not an independently audited outcome report. Direct HTTP failed; web-reader body recovered.","published_at":"2026-05-13"},"SP03":{"title":"Emile A. Bacha, MD — surgeon profile","publisher":"Columbia Surgery","url":"https://columbiasurgery.org/emile-bacha-md","read_at":"2026-10-08","source_kind":"official-institution","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/bacha-profile.txt","supports":"Current chair/surgeon-in-chief, congenital and pediatric surgical practice, adult congenital, pediatric transplant and valve repair.","limitations":"The profile retains some historic titles; the 2026 chair title is explicitly current."},"SP04":{"title":"Pediatric Heart Surgery at Columbia","publisher":"Columbia Surgery","url":"https://columbiasurgery.org/pediatric-heart","read_at":"2026-10-08","source_kind":"official-institution","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/columbia-congenital.txt","supports":"ASD/VSD repair, neonatal and staged single-ventricle operations, congenital valve programme, transplant and transition to adult congenital care; Bacha and current section director Goldstone are separately named.","limitations":"Programme capability does not assign every operation or robotic service to Bacha. Promotional rankings and superiority claims omitted."}}}