Congenital Cardiac Defects: When to Intervene

Delayed diagnosis and referral of Pediatric Cardiac patients in addition to inability of parents to financially undertake pediatric cardiac surgery have resulted in several patients becoming inoperable. Improved survival after early repair has also resulted in earlier age of surgery. Several procedures are now feasible in the neonatal period and in addition reparative procedures which required an addition palliative surgery are now performed in a single step. The objective of this article is to review contemporary recommendations for timing for surgery and interventions.