[Pediatric heart surgery]

Surgery for congenital heart defects has since its beginnings fifty years ago evolved from being palliative to corrective in many cases. Surgery for the more simple defects is now performed with low surgical mortality and excellent prognoses, but the mortality for some of the more complex defects is still high, and the treatment regarded as palliative. The principles for and the results of the surgical treatment of some more complex defects are reviewed. The importance of follow-up is emphasized. Future possibilities are discussed.