What Is Congenital
Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the structure of the heart that a baby is born with. It includes holes in the walls between the heart chambers, narrowed or leaking valves, abnormal blood vessels, or a combination of these. Some defects close on their own, while others need catheter treatment or heart surgery, usually with very good results.
Congenital heart disease is the most common type of birth defect. In India, over 2 lakh children are estimated to be born with a heart defect every year. Many are diagnosed soon after birth, but some are found later in childhood — or even in adulthood — when a doctor hears a murmur or the child has symptoms.
The good news is that most common defects can be treated very successfully. Early diagnosis matters, because treating a defect at the right time protects the heart and lungs from long-term damage.
At KG Heart Center, children are cared for jointly by the cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology and paediatrics teams, including the paediatric cardiology clinic.
- Present from birth
- Most common birth defect
- Diagnosed by echo
- Device or surgery
- Level III NICU & PICU
- Lifelong follow-up
Signs of a Heart Defect
in Babies & Children
Many heart defects cause no symptoms and are picked up during a routine check-up. If your child’s doctor hears a murmur, an echocardiogram — a painless ultrasound of the heart — is the key test.
Congenital Heart Defects
Treated at KG Hospital
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
A hole between the two upper chambers. Many are closed with a catheter device; larger or unsuitable holes are repaired surgically.
Hole in the heartVentricular Septal Defect (VSD)
A hole between the two lower chambers. Small VSDs may close on their own; larger ones need surgical repair or, in selected cases, device closure.
Hole in the heartPatent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
A blood vessel that should close after birth stays open. It can be closed with a catheter device or coil, or by surgical ligation.
Open vesselTetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
A combination of four defects that causes low oxygen levels and a bluish colour. It is treated with complete corrective open-heart surgery.
Corrective surgeryFor complex newborn heart conditions that need a dedicated neonatal cardiac surgery unit, KG Hospital’s team assesses the baby, stabilises them in the Level III NICU and coordinates care with specialist centres, so every child gets the right treatment in the right place.
Catheter Device Closure
or Open-Heart Surgery?
Device closure is a catheter procedure: a small folded occluder is passed through a vein in the groin and opened inside the heart to seal the hole, guided by echo and X-ray. There is no chest incision, and most children go home after a single overnight stay.
Open-heart surgery is needed when a defect is too large, in an unsuitable position, or part of a more complex problem such as Tetralogy of Fallot. The surgeon repairs the heart directly, usually with a patch, while a heart-lung machine supports circulation. Recovery begins in the paediatric ICU.
The heart team chooses the approach based on the type, size and position of the defect, your child’s age and weight, and international and Indian guidance on the timing of treatment.
| Factor | Device Closure | Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Incision | None — groin vein | Chest incision |
| Heart-lung machine | No | Yes |
| Hospital stay | Usually 1 night | Several days incl. ICU |
| Suitable for | Many ASDs, PDAs, some VSDs | Large or complex defects, TOF |
Your Child’s Treatment
Journey
Consultation
Your child is seen in the paediatric cardiology clinic. The doctor examines them, listens to the heart and explains what the tests will show.
Tests
An echocardiogram is the main test, with an ECG and chest X-ray. Some children need a cardiac CT, MRI or catheter study for detailed planning.
Heart team plan
Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and paediatricians agree on the best treatment and timing — sometimes regular monitoring is all that is needed at first.
Procedure
Device closure is done in the cath lab under sedation or anaesthesia. Surgery is done in the cardiac theatre, followed by care in the paediatric ICU. Parents are kept informed at every step.
Recovery & follow-up
Regular check-ups with echo continue as your child grows. Children with repaired defects benefit from long-term follow-up, sometimes into adulthood.
Little Hearts — Free Heart
Surgery for Children
Through the Little Heart Foundation scheme, launched by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, KG Hospital has performed more than 500 free heart surgeries for children from poor families.
In October 2021, KG Hospital launched the Little Hearts Project, focused on cardiac screening for children so that heart defects are found early — before symptoms appear. KG Hospital also partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu in the Idhayam Kaappom scheme for heart surgery for poor patients.
Recovery &
Long-Term Outlook
After device closure, most children return to school and play within a few days. After open-heart surgery, children usually spend a few days in intensive care and then the ward, and recover over several weeks at home. Children are often more energetic and gain weight better once the defect is fixed.
Most children with common, repaired defects such as ASD, VSD and PDA grow up to lead normal, active lives. Children with more complex conditions such as Tetralogy of Fallot need lifelong follow-up with a heart specialist, because some may need further treatment as adults.
Paediatric Heart Surgery Cost
& Financial Support
The cost depends on the defect, whether device closure or surgery is needed, the device used, and the length of ICU and hospital stay. KG Hospital provides a written estimate after the heart team review.
KG Hospital is empanelled with 50+ insurers and TPAs and with CMCHIS, PM-JAY, ESI, CGHS and ECHS. Cover varies by policy and scheme, so the insurance desk checks eligibility for your child. Call 0422-4042121, Extn 205. Insurance & cashless details →
Families facing financial hardship can ask about KG Hospital’s charitable programmes for children’s heart surgery. Coming from another city or country? Our International Patient Care team can help.
The Children’s Heart Team
at KG Hospital
Children’s heart care at KG Hospital brings together cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists for device closure, the paediatric cardiology clinic, neonatologists in the Level III NICU, paediatric intensivists and cardiac anaesthesiologists.
KG Hospital was founded in 1974 by Padma Shri awardee Dr G. Bakthavathsalam and is accredited by NABH.
About this page. Written by the KG Heart Center team, KG Hospital, Coimbatore. Clinical information is consistent with the guidance listed below. Last updated: .
References
- Guidelines for the management of common congenital heart diseases in India: a consensus statement on indications and timing of intervention — Saxena A et al., Indian Heart Journal, 2019.
- Common Types of Heart Defects — American Heart Association.
- About Congenital Heart Defects — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.