Results of 102 cases of complete repair of congenital heart defects in patients weighing 700 to 2500 grams.

Background: Published data suggest that low birth weight is a risk factor for poor outcome in corrective surgery for many cardiac defects. Congenital heart defects in low birth weight infants are typically managed with supportive therapy or palliative operations, with definitive repair delayed. The morbidity associated with such approaches is high.