OBJECTIVETo report the experience of the surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg.

METHODSBetween January 2000 and December 2007, 105 children with CHD, aged 2 months to 3 years and weighing between 3.5 to 10 kg, underwent surgical treatment. Of the 105 patients, 56 were concomitant with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension or repeated pulmonary infections, and 35 with complex cardiac abnormalities. Operations were performed through median sternotomy with moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 88 cases, with normothermic extracorporeal circulation on beating heart in 14 cases, and with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 3 cases.

RESULTSThere were 5 early deaths (4.8%). During a follow-up of 2 month to 3 year, 97 survivors with corrective procedure had no late mortality or complications with NYHA class I of cardiac function, excepting 2 cases with little residual shunt. Three survivors with palliative procedure enjoyed higher quality of life.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical treatment of CHD in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg seems to be feasible and safe, with satisfactory early and long-term results.