A remarkable medical success, yet the miracle was in New Delhi. A few days ago, a baby born in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly underwent risky open-heart surgery at a private hospital in the nation's capital.
The child suffered from Transposition of the Great Arteries, a rare congenital defect in which the major arteries of the heart are reversed. The baby had also suffered from a ventricular septal defect, widely referred to as a hole in the heart.
The three-hour complicated surgery, referred to as the Arterial Switch Operation, was performed by Dr. Neeraj Awasthy, Director of Paediatric Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.
It included correcting connections between the arteries of the heart so that blood can circulate properly within this vital organ.
The baby's condition was detected at a routine 20-week pregnancy scan, where potential cardiac anomalies were found. The infant was cared for 16 days post-operatively before being discharged in stable condition. The doctors have advised continued follow-up care to monitor the child's growth and heart function.
Importance of Early Detection
This case emphasizes the need for early detection and medical intervention in congenital heart defects. Advances in prenatal diagnostics, such as fetal echocardiography, allow for timely identification of such conditions, enabling healthcare providers to plan and execute life-saving interventions at birth.
Similar Cases in India
Similar cases have been reported from different parts of India of successful interventions for newborns with congenital heart defects:
A one-hour-old baby in Mumbai underwent a high-risk open-heart surgery to treat Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). This condition is characterised by an underdevelopment of the left side of the heart. The Norwood operation was carried out by specialists from Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
In Mathura, an 18-hour-old newborn was operated on for Obstructed Critical Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi. The child had pulmonary veins abnormally connected to the heart. The surgery was performed by the team led by Dr. K.S. Iyer, Executive Director of Paediatric & Congenital Heart Diseases at the institute.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)