When a child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, everything changes, and the first question every parent asks is: who is the best surgeon to operate on my child? It's not a question with an easy answer, but India has some genuinely world class pediatric cardiac surgeons who have operated on tens of thousands of children and trained in programs across the US, UK, and Australia. The surgery is often cheaper than in the West, the wait times are short, and the outcomes at leading centers are comparable to anywhere in the world.
We put together this list of the top 10 pediatric cardiac surgeons in India so parents have a reliable starting point. It covers where each surgeon trained, what they specialize in, and what makes them stand out. If you need help figuring out who is the right fit for your child's specific condition, HOSPIDIO can review the case and connect you with the right doctor.
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Top 10 Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons in India for International Patients
1. Dr. KS Iyer
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Pediatric & Neonatal Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Heart Defects
Experience: 40+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. KS Iyer established the first dedicated pediatric cardiac care program in Northern India at Escorts Heart Institute in 1995 , and over the following four decades, he has performed over 20,000 pediatric cardiac surgeries at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. An AIIMS MCh graduate and Gold Medal MBBS holder, he is the Founder President of both the Asia Pacific Pediatric Cardiac Society and the Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgeons, and the current President of the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India.
2. Dr. Shiv Kumar Choudhary
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Congenital & Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Aortic & Valve Surgery
Experience: 32+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Shiv Kumar Choudhary spent years as Head of Department and Professor at AIIMS, New Delhi before taking on the role of Executive Director of CTVS at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. He performs over 500 major cardiac surgeries per year, has pioneered several surgical innovations including a percutaneously adjustable pulmonary artery band and modified ultrafiltration technique, and is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), USA, and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT).
View Dr. Shiv Kumar Choudhary's Profile
3. Dr. Ramji Mehrotra
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Beating Heart Surgery, Total Arterial CABG
Experience: 26+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Ramji Mehrotra trained at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA , and returned to India to perform the country's first total arterial revascularization using bilateral mammary arteries composite grafting, and the first minimal incision OPCAB total arterial revascularization. Vice Chairman & Chief of CTVS at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, he has been honored with the "Legends of Cardiac Surgery" award by the Times of India.
View Dr. Ramji Mehrotra's Profile
4. Dr. Kulbhushan Singh Dagar
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Neonatal & Congenital Heart Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Experience: 31+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Kulbhushan Singh Dagar holds an MCh from GB Pant Hospital, Delhi, and trained as a Specialist Registrar at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, one of the world's most respected children's cardiac surgery centers , where he gained expertise in extracorporeal life support and heart transplant techniques. Now Principal Director of Neonatal & Congenital Heart Surgery at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, he has performed over 10,000 surgeries and authored chapters in medical textbooks on congenital heart disease.
View Dr. Kulbhushan Singh Dagar's Profile
5. Dr. Gaurav Kumar
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Pediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, Complex Cardiac Repairs
Experience: 25+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Gaurav Kumar holds an FRCS-CTh (England) and a Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery from Australia , a combination of UK and Australian specialist training that few surgeons in India can match. Senior Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, he handles the full spectrum of congenital heart defects from newborns to adults, with over 8,000 surgeries and a 4.9 Google rating from 155 patient reviews.
View Dr. Gaurav Kumar's Profile
6. Dr. Aseem R. Srivastava
Location: Gurugram, India
Specialization: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Robotic & Minimally Invasive Congenital Surgery
Experience: 20+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Aseem R. Srivastava completed clinical fellowships in Congenital Cardiac Surgery in Philadelphia, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery in Pittsburgh, and Robotic & Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery in Greenville, NC, USA , all three in the United States. As Head of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, he brings American trained expertise in minimally invasive congenital surgery to over 7,000 surgeries performed, with a perfect 5.0 Google rating from 168 reviews.
View Dr. Aseem R. Srivastava's Profile
7. Dr. Dhananjay Malankar
Location: Mumbai, India
Specialization: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, ECMO, Heart Transplant, LVAD
Experience: 12+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Dhananjay Malankar trained at AIIMS, New Delhi, and then spent two years at The Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, USA) learning advanced heart failure surgery and LVAD implantation, followed by training in neonatal cardiac surgery at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Senior Consultant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, he has performed over 5,000 pediatric heart surgeries , including 200+ life saving surgeries in Iraq during international cardiac camps.
View Dr. Dhananjay Malankar's Profile
8. Dr. Sukhjeet Singh
Location: New Delhi, India
Specialization: Pediatric & Neonatal Cardiac Surgery, Complex Congenital Repairs
Experience: 18+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Sukhjeet Singh completed an international fellowship in congenital heart surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, USA , among the world's top programs for pediatric cardiac surgery. Principal Consultant at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, he has performed over 6,000 surgeries and published research in internationally recognized cardiac surgery journals covering topics like anomalous venous connections, complex atrial conditions, and surgical techniques for congenital heart disease.
View Dr. Sukhjeet Singh's Profile
9. Dr. Neerav Bansal
Location: Ghaziabad (NCR), India
Specialization: CTVS, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Total Arterial CABG, ECMO
Experience: 25+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Neerav Bansal earned his MCh from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, Trivandrum , India's most respected cardiac surgery training program , and has since led CTVS departments at Fortis Escorts Hospital and Medanta before his current role as Director of CTVS at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in Total Arterial CABG, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and complex ECMO support for pediatric heart failure cases.
View Dr. Neerav Bansal's Profile
10. Dr. Ashish Katewa
Location: Faridabad, India
Specialization: Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery, High Risk Neonatal Surgery
Experience: 14+ Years
Why He's One of the Best:
Dr. Ashish Katewa is Director & Head of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, with over 6,000 surgeries to his name and a 4.8 Google rating. A Governing Council Member of the Society of Pediatric & Congenital Heart Surgeons (SPCHS) of India and a Member of the Medical Advisory Panel at Saloni Heart Foundation, USA and Advisory Board at Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Child Heart Center, Fiji, his reach extends well beyond India , demonstrating a level of international trust that speaks to the quality of his work.
View Dr. Ashish Katewa's Profile
How HOSPIDIO Can Help
If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and you're trying to figure out the next step, which surgeon, which hospital, what it will cost, HOSPIDIO can walk you through all of it. We review the medical reports, match you with the right surgeon, and handle visa support, accommodation, and hospital coordination. It doesn't cost you anything.
Get a Free Treatment Plan for Your Child
Conclusion
India has some of the most experienced pediatric cardiac surgeons in the world , trained in the US, UK, and Australia, operating at high volume centers, and treating international patients from across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia every year. If your child needs a congenital heart surgery, you don't have to look far. HOSPIDIO can help you find the right surgeon and get there.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.Published by the HOSPIDIO Medical Writing Team.
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Shruti Verma has completed her M.Tech in Biotechnology with experience in medical writing and scientific content development. She specializes in translating complex biomedical and healthcare information into clear, accurate, and reader-friendly content for diverse audiences. When she is not designing content, probably she is designing graphics.
Guneet Bhatia is the Founder of HOSPIDIO and an accomplished content reviewer with extensive experience in medical content development, instructional design, and blogging. Passionate about creating impactful content, she excels in ensuring accuracy and clarity in every piece. Guneet enjoys engaging in meaningful conversations with people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, enriching her perspective. When she's not working, she cherishes quality time with her family, enjoys good music, and loves brainstorming innovative ideas with her team.