NEIGRIHMS performed a successful treatment of a rare congenital heart condition on a baby girl, in a significant accomplishment for the hospital.
The 40-day-old baby, weighing 3.6kg was suffering from an ‘Aorto Pulmonary Window’, which is a rare and lethal cardiac problem with an abnormal communication between the major artery taking blood from the heart to the body (aorta) and the one taking blood from the heart to the lungs (pulmonary artery). This problem results in excessive blood flow to the lungs, leading to high blood pressure in the lungs (a condition called pulmonary hypertension) and congestive heart failure. The problem occurs in only 0.1% to 0.6% of all congenital heart defects. A large number of patients with a large Aorto Pulmonary Window usually die within 1 year of age if left untreated.
The cohesive teamwork of the Departments of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), Anaesthesiology and Paediatrics led to successful surgery. A team of doctors and staff including Dr Reuben Lamiaki Kynta, Dr Shivadutta Sharma, Dr Priyanka Dev, Dr Neha Rawat, Dr Wewuteu Thopi, Mrinal Mandal and Loosar Dkhar performed the successful operation on October 22.
The stormy but successful postoperative intensive care of this baby was provided by the Department of Paediatrics, headed by Prof Himesh Barman, and Senior Residents Dr Ivan Derick Thongni, Dr John Biswas, Dr Deisar Muksor and Dr Kapil Sharma.
The baby was discharged on November 12 in a stable condition.