Therefore, the parents must decide how aggressively they want the medical team to be in treating their child, knowing the chances of a good outcome are low. A complicated surgery is performed in which a single vessel is formed from the pulmonary artery and aorta to create a blood supply to the lungs and the body. At about 2 years of age, the second stage of this surgery is performed to completely bypass the tiny left ventricle. A heart transplant may also be performed to treat this condition but infant heart transplants are available only in a few areas of the country. The type and timing of surgical repair depends on the child's condition and the type and severity of heart defects.
Many children recover completely and lead normal, active lives.
Most children need to stay in the Intensive Care Unit for 3 to 7 days and stay in the hospital for 5 to 14 days. By the time the child is transferred out of the intensive care unit, most of the tubes and wires have been removed and he is encouraged to resume many of his daily activities. At the time of discharge, the parents are instructed on activity, how to care for the incision and how to give medications their child may need to take such as digoxin, Lasix, Aldactone and Coumadin. The child needs at least several more weeks at home to recover. The costs of any surgery varies significantly between surgeons, medical facilities, and regions of the country.