[The prognosis of congenital heart defects in changed]

Congenital heart disease occurs in approximately 8 per mille of all live births. The prognosis for these patients has been radically changed throughout the last decades, both for length and for quality of life. Many patients now have a normal or near to normal life expectancy. This is due not only to better surgical techniques, but improvement of anesthesia, myocardial preservation and postoperative intensive care also have contributed to the astonishing results. The early complete and even in details correct diagnosis and the close cooperation between the local practitioner, pediatrician and the central pediatric cardiac unit is basic for optimal treatment benefit.