Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI) has conducted a life-saving complex stent procedure on a one-month-old premature baby weighing 1.8 kg by a team of doctors comprising of Dr S Radhakrishnan, director, pediatric and congenital heart diseases and Dr Neeraj Awasthy, pediatric cardiologist. According to Fortis Escorts, this is the first case in India, with the lowest recorded weight and age of a baby undergoing a complex stent procedure. Her treatment has been funded by FEHI.
The baby was referred to FEHI by a government hospital in Delhi when she stopped breathing and showed signs of heart problems. The baby was immediately put on ventilator and was oxygen dependent for three weeks.
The artery going towards her lungs were found obstructive and this made her treatment complicated and high risk.
Explaining the complexity involved in the operation, Dr Radhakrishnan said, “Initially we kept the baby under ventilation for few days and when she started responding to our treatment, we decided to wean her off the ventilation. On further examination, it was found that the right ventricular outflow track was blocked and stent procedure should be performed. The baby would need a future surgery once she weighs 8-9 kg.”
Dr Awasthy said, “Given the multiple complexities of the case, her prognosis has been very good. When the case first came to us, her survival was a question. Such a case had never been attempted before anywhere in India. Today, after the surgeries, she is responding well to her treatment protocol.”
He added, “As the hospital is technologically equipped with advanced smaller size equipment to manage such complex cases, we were confident to go ahead and perform such a complex procedure which demanded additional vigilance and support.”
Source: India Medical Times