Congenital heart disease occurs from birth and can include structural defects and heart rhythm problems. the heart can have difficulty pumping efficiently because it is not completely developed. In some situations surgery can be performed on the young baby, infant or child but for others the surgery is left until adulthood.

Congenital heart surgery can involve:

• repairing the abnormality e.g. repairing defects in the internal walls of the heart with stitches or a patch made from either the patient's own tissue or from an artificial source or
• a procedure that will make the patient more comfortable but that will not necessarily correct the defect e.g. inserting a tube to connect the major vessels to increase blood flow to the lungs.