Open-heart corrective surgery is used to correct defects inside the heart. During these procedures, CPB is used to supply oxygen to the blood and pump blood through the body, bypassing the heart and lungs. Some children require hypothermia, which lowers the body temperature and allows the surgeon to stop all blood circulation to safely repair the heart. Palliative surgery is used almost exclusively in the treatment of complex defects that are not suited to early correction. In these cases, a staged approach to treatment is more effective.
Palliative surgery provides a bridge to prepare the heart for eventual complete repair.
The families of patients referred to the cardiovascular-thoracic surgeons are scheduled for a family consultation. Surgical consultations can usually be scheduled within one week of the initial call. After the family decides to proceed with the surgery, the procedure is scheduled and the referring cardiologist is notified of the date. Surgery schedules are, of course, subject to change in the event of an emergency.