Korrektur Einfacher Angeborener Herzfehler

This review is the first of three parts intended to describe congenital cardiac surgery mainly for cardiac surgeons in preparation for their boards. It covers fundamental physiology of congenital heart disease elucidating the background for the treatment of cardiac defects. In addition symptoms, natural history, indication for surgery, surgical techniques, characteristic morphology and results are discussed. This first part addresses the most common simple defects to be corrected without cardiopulmonary bypass such as persistent ductus arteriosus, aortic coarctation, as well as intracardiac correction of the most common lesions with left to right shunt (ASD, PAPVD, VSD, AVSD) using cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, the optimal structure of a centre for congenital cardiac surgery and quality control are presented.