Delhi: Doctors at a private hospital performed major heart surgery using advanced technology to save the life of a newborn baby

New Delhi: To save the life of a one-day-old newborn with transposition of the great arteries, a rare and potentially fatal heart defect that arises when the main arteries originating from the heart are switched, along with a hole in the heart, doctors at a private hospital in Delhi successfully performed a difficult and complex heart surgery.

The newborn was saved by the high-risk arterial switch operation, a rare open-heart surgery performed by a team of doctors led by Dr. Neeraj Awasthy, Director, Paediatric Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla. This procedure corrects a defect in which the aorta and pulmonary arteries are in the wrong ventricles of the heart. After 16 days, the newborn was released in a stable state after the three-hour operation.

In the 20th week of the mother’s pregnancy, the fetus was suspected of having heart abnormalities during a routine ultrasound check. The newborn had a serious congenital cardiac condition, according to a fetal echocardiography.

As a result of the diagnosis, Dr. Awasthy suggested that the baby be delivered at Fortis La Femme by caesarean section under the medical supervision of Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja, Senior Director, Obstetrics & Gynecology. Following birth, the mother and child were sent to a private hospital in Delhi for further assessment.

The infant was given a balloon atrial septostomy by Dr. Awasthy the next day. Certain congenital heart abnormalities in babies are treated with this minimally invasive cardiac treatment. The process involves inserting a catheter into a blood artery and guiding it to the heart while holding a deflated balloon at its tip. The balloon is then deflated and taken out after being inflated to make or widen a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart. The baby’s oxygen levels improved and her health stabilized, thanks in large part to this action.

The high-risk arterial switch operation, which reconnects the two arteries in their proper places, was carried out by Dr. Neeraj Awasthy and Dr. K.S. Iyer, Chairman of Paediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, when the newborn was stable. Bypass surgery is used for this procedure. The infant was stabilized after the successful procedures, and the wounds are now completely healed while it recovers.

The baby’s underweight state and the intricacy of the cardiac problems made this case very difficult, according to Dr. Neeraj Awasthy, Director, Paediatric Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Cardiac Institute, Okhla. She weighed 1.8 kg when she was born. She was put on gavage feeding, which involves feeding infants through their noses to help them gain weight and make sure they are getting the right nourishment for a full recovery.

Her weight rose to 2.3 kg as a result. In this instance, the prompt diagnosis made possible by fetal echocardiograms allowed us to save the newborn’s life. This was crucial in enabling us to plan for therapy by identifying congenital cardiac abnormalities before birth. Our whole team worked together to ensure the baby had the best possible result, and we are overjoyed to see how well the baby is recuperating.”

The Arterial Switch Operation is a very complex treatment, particularly in neonates with numerous heart abnormalities, according to Dr. K.S. Iyer, Chairman-Paediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, Fortis Escorts, Okhla. Due to the baby’s recent birth, premature age, and undeveloped heart on one side, the situation was very dangerous. The infant has recovered quite well, and the procedure went well despite the dangers. Due to the serious problems brought on by the transposition of the great arteries, the infant would not have lived if treatment had not been received promptly. Insufficient oxygen delivery to the body would result in serious consequences, organ failure, and eventually death.

“Given the newborn’s age and critical condition, this case was difficult,” said Dr. Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts, Okhla. Because of the effective treatment and accurate medical evaluation, the patient lived against all the odds. Fortis Escorts Heart Institute is known for its clinical competence and cutting-edge technology in pediatric cardiology. We always strive to provide the best treatment possible in order to save lives and achieve better results.