How is the procedure done?

• The paient is adminsitered general anaesthesia and is connected to monitoring devices
• A median sternotomy incision that begins at or below the top of the breastbone and goes straight down the sternum (breastbone) is made and the breastbone separated to expose the heart.
• The patient is then placed on the heart-lung bypass machine, a device that provides blood flow to the body and “bypasses” the patient’s heart and lungs. D
• Depending on the location of the defect, an incision will be made in either the right atrium, the pulmonary artery, or the outflow tract of the right ventricle.
• A patch is created by the surgeon from either the patient’s own pericardial tissue or a synthetic material such as Dacron.
• The patch is then sutured into place to close the defect.
• The atrial, pulmonary artery or infundibular incision is then closed with sutures.
• The patient will be weaned gradually off of the heart-lung bypass machine until the newly repaired heart is managing all the blood flow again. 
• Chest tubes will then be placed to drain the surgical area. The sternal bone is brought together, and stainless steel wire secures the sternum. 
• The breast bone is sewn back with wires and all incisions are closed.