complex heart disease

the baby is 9month old right now. what will happen if he do not undergo surgical operation?

[Jeffrey R Boris, M.D.]

Dear Tetz,

Unfortunately, you give me no information about this child, other than the hint that there is complex heart disease.  Therefore, all I can tell you is that children with complex congenital cardiac defects typically have a significantly shortened life span without surgical intervention.  With surgical intervention, most (but not all) children with these defects have a greatly improved duration and quality of life.  That said, it also depends on the type of defect as well as the timing of the intervention.  Sometimes, 9 months of age can be too late to intervene to change the outcome, depending on the defect.