Defects can occur inside the heart or in the large blood vessels outside the heart.
The heart defect may need immediate surgery or may be able to safely wait for months or years. The heart defect may be repaired in a single surgical procedure or may require a series of procedures. Surgery may involve opening the heart to repair defects inside the heart or repairing defects of the blood vessels outside the heart. Heart-lung bypass may be needed. Tubes are used to re-route the blood through a special pump that adds oxygen to the blood and keeps it warm and moving through the rest of the body while the repair is being done.