Congenital cardiac surgery

What is it in children?

Congenital cardiac surgery covers neonatal, infant and children's heart surgery, as well as surgery for adults with congenital heart disease. It includes transplantation and mechanical circulatory support ^[1]. Children's heart surgery is done at twelve Level 1 centres across the UK and Ireland ^[2].

Typical conditions and operations

• Ventricular septal defect repair ^[1].
• Tetralogy of Fallot repair, sometimes staged ^[1].
• Arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries ^[1].
• The Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome ^[1].
• Coarctation of the aorta and arch repair ^[1].

How to get there

Cardiothoracic surgery is a run-through specialty entered at ST1, straight after Foundation, through one national recruitment for all four UK nations ^[3]. Children's heart surgery is then a formal sub-specialty you apply for later ^[4].

1. 5 to 6 yearsMedical school

   A medical degree. To apply for the Foundation Programme you need to be eligible for provisional registration with the GMC ^[5].

2. 2 yearsFoundation Programme

   The two-year UK Foundation Programme ^[5].

3. ST1 to ST3Cardiothoracic surgery, phase 1

   Three years. By the end, you choose to follow either cardiac or thoracic surgery ^[4].

4. ST4 to ST5Phase 2

   Two years, after which you can sit the Intercollegiate Specialty Board exam in cardiothoracic surgery ^[4].

5. About 2 yearsCongenital cardiac surgery sub-specialty

   A small number of trainees are selected nationally after passing the exam, with a declared interest in cardiac surgery. The sub-specialty takes an indicative two years ^{[4, 1]}.

6. Specialist register

   You join the specialist register as a cardiothoracic surgeon with a sub-specialty in congenital cardiac surgery ^[1].

Good to know

• Run-through training takes an indicative seven years from ST1 ^[4]. With Foundation, that's about nine years after medical school.
• August 2026 was the last year of ST4 entry to thoracic surgery, so from now on ST1 is the only way in ^[6].

Getting involved as a student

• SCTS student membership is free. INSINC, the SCTS student committee, is the student hub ^[7].
• SCTS Student Engagement Day. The 2025 day had a medical student early bird rate of £20, plus abstract and reflection competitions ^[8].
• SCTS Annual Meeting, ICC Birmingham, 21/03/2027 to 23/03/2027. It includes a medical student section on the University Day, and registration opens on 01/12/2026 ^{[9, 10]}.