Life-giving heart procedure on infant a first in India

In a first in India, a stent was inserted into the heart of a month-old baby girl weighing just 1.8kg at a private hospital here, officials claimed today.
And, what is more, the hospital did not charge any fees for the procedure as the patient's family is economically weak.
The baby was suffering from a common cyanotic heart defect known as tetralogy of fallot and was operated using RVOT (right ventricular outflow tract) stenting, said officials at the Fortis Escorts Health Institute, Okhla.
The baby was admitted to the hospital with a 4-5mm hole in her heart. Also, her right lung had collapsed.

"We had a protracted debate over the method to be followed in this case since the surgery, which is the standard practice in such cases, was not possible on a baby with such low birth weight.
"So, we had to find an alternative. Finally, we decided to perform RVOT stenting," said Dr S Radhakrishana, Director and HOD of Paediatric and Congenital heart diseases at the hospital.

"She is responding well to the treatment, she was removed from ventilator support just a day after the procedure and was discharged from the hospital within a week, which is a big achievement in itself," Radhakrishana added.

"There will be constant follow up as the baby still has a hole in her heart and will need an open heart surgery. We wish that the baby thrives.
"The hole in the heart is around 4-5mm big, for which surgery will be performed on her after she gains 5-6kg," he added.
"This procedure is not a curative procedure but an interim procedure, and will be followed by other surgeries to make the baby live a healthy life," he further added.