What is the risk of cardiac surgery in children?

Q: My 4 months son has a breathing problem and after diagnosis it has been established that he has got double aortic arc and he has to go for surgery. As per doctor this is a minor operation than risk involved in case of a hole in the heart. May I know which involves more risk .. operation for hole in heart or double aortic arc? What is other alternative? Can the operation be delayed till he grows upto 5 years as he is very small in age?

A:Surgery is the only solution to this problem and one should definitely not wait. One cannot compare results of surgery to that of another. Each institution has its own risk data and one has to choose the institution with the best existing results.