Udupi: Manipal Hospitals Bengaluru, a part of Manipal Health Enterprises, India’s leading healthcare groups, on Friday announced a surgical miracle on a 3 week old infant who underwent a complex heart surgery. Dr Devananda N S (MS, MCh Chairman – Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, MHEPL HOD & Consultant – Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Manipal Hospitals), who operated on the infant, was present along with Dr Leslie Lewis, Prof and HOD of Neonatology of Kasturba Hospitals – Manipal.
Addressing the mediapersons at the press club, Dr Devananda N S said that master Manish was born to a young couple after years of waiting. “Unfortunately their happiness did not last long as at 3 weeks, the baby started having difficulties breathing and was referred to Dr Leslie Lewis. After a check- up at KMC, the baby was admitted in NICU and diagnosed to have a major heart problem, apart from an infection and was referred for surgery.
Manish was born with a condition called ‘Transposition of Great Arteries’, which affects 1 out of 1000 newborns. The main blood vessels which carry pure and impure blood out of the heart were interchanged, leading to impure blood circulating in the body. He was just 3 weeks old and weighing 1.8 kg, thus further complicating the issue.
The parents were further directed to Dr Devananda who found that apart from the existing challenges, the child also had a single coronary artery which put the child at high risk for arterial switch operation. However, the baby underwent arterial switch operation, which involves bringing the major arteries back to the respective positions, along with the transfer of the single coronary artery.
The condition of the child gradually improved and was discharged from the hospital after 2 weeks post-operation. Now, the child is doing well and is gaining weight. Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is a problem with the structure of the heart at the time of birth and affects one out of 1000 live births.
“In cases when such conditions are detected, the parents are requested not to panic, and consult a cardiologist immediately and understand the necessary steps and precautions. Sometimes, CHD may not require surgery but if the case is critical, the patient may require surgery and medication. Even though surgery is conducted on very young children, there are no further complications and the patient can live a healthy, normal life. Learning about the disease and being aware of the symptoms helps in managing such situations more effectively.”
Congenital heart defects may occur during the development of the heart shortly after conception and can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart and the arteries and veins near the heart. Congenital heart defects may result in disrupting the normal flow of blood through the heart and the blood flow may slow down, flow in the wrong direction and get blocked completely.