Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai)
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Congenital Heart Defects
Some hearts arrive in this world needing a little extra care. Congenital heart defects are structural abnormalities present from birth, ranging from a small hole in the heart that closes on its own, to complex malformations requiring staged surgical correction in infancy. At Shree Hospitals, our dedicated team of congenital cardiac surgeons and paediatric cardiologists provides compassionate, world-class Congenital Heart Defect treatment in Mumbai, India, for newborns, children, adolescents, and adults living with unrepaired or previously corrected defects. Every small heart that comes to us receives the full strength of our expertise.
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Our Approach
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Our Approach to Managing Congenital Heart Defects
Born with courage. Treated with precision. Supported for life.
Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defects worldwide, affecting nearly 1 in every 100 newborns. The spectrum is vast: some defects are simple and require only monitoring, while others involve complex abnormalities in the heart's chambers, valves, walls, or great vessels that demand early, precise surgical intervention. What remains constant across this entire spectrum is the need for expert, coordinated, and continuous care.
At Shree Hospitals, our approach to paediatric and adult congenital heart care in Mumbai is built around a dedicated multidisciplinary team, congenital cardiac surgeons, paediatric cardiologists, cardiac anaesthesiologists, neonatologists, and rehabilitation specialists, who work together from diagnosis through to long-term follow-up. We understand that treating a congenital defect means caring for an entire family, not just a patient.
- Foetal & Neonatal Cardiac Diagnosis
Early detection changes everything. Our diagnostic capabilities begin even before birth:
- Foetal echocardiography from 18–22 weeks of pregnancy to identify structural abnormalities in utero
- Pulse oximetry screening for all newborns to detect critical hole in the heart and cyanotic defects
- Neonatal echocardiography for comprehensive structural heart defect diagnosis and surgical correction planning
- Genetic counselling for families with a history of congenital cardiac conditions
- Multidisciplinary foetal cardiology conference to plan delivery and immediate postnatal care
- Interventional Catheter-Based Closures
Many common congenital defects can today be corrected without open-heart surgery through catheter-based approaches:
- ASD VSD closure procedure : using occluder devices delivered through a thin catheter via the groin
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) device closure, avoiding surgery entirely in eligible patients
- Pulmonary valve balloon dilation for congenital pulmonary stenosis
- Coarctation of aorta stenting and balloon dilation for older children and adults
- All ASD VSD closure procedures performed in our fully equipped hybrid cath lab with real-time imaging guidance
- Open-Heart Surgery for Complex Defects
When catheter-based options are not suitable, our congenital cardiac surgeons perform a full range of corrective open-heart procedures:
- Complete repair of Tetralogy of Fallot, the most common cyanotic congenital defect
- Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries in newborns
- Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) repair in neonates
- Fontan palliation for single-ventricle heart defects requiring staged surgical correction
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) patch closure and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) surgical repair
- Neonatal & Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care
Following any cardiac procedure, specialised post-operative care is critical:
- Dedicated Paediatric Cardiac ICU staffed by trained intensivists and paediatric cardiac nurses
- Ventilator support, haemodynamic monitoring, and nutritional management for post-operative neonates
- Close collaboration with neonatology and paediatric teams for holistic recovery
- Family-centred care model, parents kept informed and involved throughout the ICU stay
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Programme
Many patients with congenital defects survive into adulthood, sometimes with previously undetected conditions, or with repaired defects that now require reassessment:
- Dedicated Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic at Shree Hospitals
- Re-intervention planning for patients with residual defects or failing surgical repairs
- Arrhythmia management for adults with congenital structural abnormalities
- Pregnancy counselling and risk assessment for women with congenital heart conditions
- Comprehensive paediatric and adult congenital heart care in Mumbai under one roof
- Lifelong Follow-Up & Transition Care
Congenital Heart Defect treatment in Mumbai, India at Shree Hospitals is never a one-time event:
- Structured transition programme guiding patients from paediatric to adult cardiac care
- Regular echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and exercise testing at defined intervals
- Endocarditis prevention education for all patients with repaired or unrepaired defects
- Psychosocial support for adolescents adjusting to life with a congenital heart condition
Happy Patients & Their Case Stories
A three-day-old newborn from Pune was rushed to Shree Hospitals with critical cyanosis. Our congenital cardiac surgeon performed emergency arterial switch surgery within hours. Today, at four years old, he runs, plays, and thrives like any other child.
Mr. Pramod
This 14-year-old from Nashik had been living with an unrepaired hole in the heart since birth, misdiagnosed as asthma for years. Structural heart defect diagnosis and surgical correction at Shree Hospitals changed her life, her breathlessness resolved completely within weeks of the procedure.
Mr. Omkar
How to Identify Congenital Heart Defects?
Congenital Heart Defects present differently depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the defect. Some are identified at birth; others remain hidden for decades. Recognising the signs at every life stage is essential:
- Blue or grey discolouration of the lips, tongue, or fingernails (cyanosis), the most urgent sign of a critical hole in the heart or cyanotic defect
- Rapid or laboured breathing, particularly during feeding, which is the equivalent of intense exercise for a newborn heart
- Poor feeding and failure to gain weight, the compromised heart cannot sustain the energy demands of normal growth
- Excessive sweating during feeding, the body working extraordinarily hard to compensate for reduced cardiac output
- Puffy face, legs, or abdomen, fluid accumulation from an overloaded circulatory system
In Older Children & Adolescents:
- Tiring easily during play or sport while peers show no difficulty, a consistent early indicator of reduced cardiac reserve
- Frequent respiratory infections, blood pooling in the lungs from left-to-right shunts creates vulnerability to infection
- Heart murmur detected during a school medical or routine check-up, always requires echocardiographic evaluation
- Dizziness, fainting, or palpitations during physical activity, associated with arrhythmias linked to structural defects
In Adults with Undetected Defects:
- Progressive breathlessness and reduced stamina, often dismissed as deconditioning or ageing
- Irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation is common in adults with unrepaired ASD
- Signs of pulmonary hypertension, a serious complication of long-standing uncorrected hole in the heart defects
Our congenital cardiac surgeons and paediatric cardiologists provide comprehensive screening, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI for patients at any age with suspected or confirmed congenital defects.
Important FAQs : Congenital Heart Defects
What causes congenital heart defects?
In most cases, the exact cause is unknown. Genetic factors, chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, maternal infections like rubella during early pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, and certain medications taken during the first trimester are known risk factors. A family history of congenital cardiac conditions also increases the likelihood, making foetal echocardiography an important screening tool.
Can a congenital heart defect be detected before birth?
Yes. Foetal echocardiography performed between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy can identify significant structural defects with high accuracy. Early detection allows our team to plan delivery at a centre equipped for immediate neonatal cardiac intervention, a critical advantage in complex cases.
Is a hole in the heart always serious?
Not necessarily. Small holes in the heart, particularly small VSDs and patent foramen ovales, often close spontaneously and require only monitoring. Larger defects, or those causing symptoms or haemodynamic compromise, require the ASD VSD closure procedure or surgical repair to prevent long-term complications.
Can adults have undiagnosed congenital heart defects?
Yes, and more commonly than most people realise. Mild defects such as small ASDs, bicuspid aortic valves, and minor VSDs frequently go undetected until adulthood when symptoms emerge or a murmur is noticed incidentally. Our Adult Congenital Heart Disease programme provides structural heart defect diagnosis and surgical correction for patients at any age.
When should I bring my child to a specialist for a suspected heart defect?
Any bluish discolouration, difficulty feeding, poor weight gain, unexplained breathlessness, or a newly detected heart murmur in a child warrants immediate evaluation. For Congenital Heart Defect treatment in Mumbai, India, our paediatric cardiology team offers urgent appointments with same-day echocardiography.
Treatments for Congenital Heart Defects at Shree Hospitals
Treatment for congenital heart disease is never generic. The type of defect, the patient's age and size, the degree of physiological compromise, and the presence of associated abnormalities all shape the surgical or interventional strategy. Every decision at Shree Hospitals is made through multidisciplinary team discussion.
Watchful Waiting & Medical Management
Small VSDs and PDAs frequently close spontaneously in infancy. Where intervention is not yet indicated, structured surveillance with regular echocardiography, growth monitoring, and medication for associated symptoms forms the first phase of Congenital Heart Defect treatment in Mumbai, India.
Catheter-Based ASD & VSD Closure
The preferred approach for suitable septal defects in children and adults. The ASD VSD closure procedure uses a collapsible occluder device delivered through a catheter, no chest incision, no cardiopulmonary bypass, minimal hospital stay, and excellent long-term outcomes.
Open-Heart Surgical Repair
For complex defects including Tetralogy of Fallot, TAPVC, and single-ventricle hearts, open surgical correction by our congenital cardiac surgeons remains the gold standard. Performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with meticulous technique and dedicated paediatric perfusion support.
Hybrid & Staged Surgical Palliation
For the most complex congenital anatomy, particularly single-ventricle physiology, a staged approach is employed. Norwood, Glenn, and Fontan procedures are performed at defined developmental milestones as part of a carefully coordinated paediatric and adult congenital heart care in Mumbai pathway.
Top Heart Specialists in Mumbai
Dr. Anmol Sonawane
Interventional Cardiologist, TAVI & Structural Heart
Dr. Chirag Parikh
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Dr. Komal Pawar
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Dr. Vaibhav Shah
Cardio Thoracic Surgeon
Every Surgeon & Specialist at Shree Hospitals brings years of specialised experience to each case.
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