Lifesaving procedure on just born
He is the smallest pre-term baby and possibly the youngest to undergo such a procedure
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-10-29 08:19 GMT
Chennai: Having detected a major cardiac defect during the 20th week routine antenatal sonogram, doctors at a corporate hospital here not only ensured a safe delivery but also performed an advanced procedure - balloon Atrial Septostomy - on a one-hour old boy and saved his life. The infant, whose condition is said to be stable, is the smallest pre-term baby and possibly the youngest to undergo such a procedure.
Following the successful surgery the neonatal team took over the baby for further management. Sudhan and his wife were overjoyed when they heard that after seven years of waiting they would be parents. But their enthusiasm waned when they were told that the 20th week routine antenatal sonogram showed major cardiac defect.
Dr P.M. Gopinath, director and senior consultant obstetrics & gynaecology, SIMS hospital, had convinced the couple to go ahead with the pregnancy. A team of experts, lead by Dr Gopinath, along with a paediatric cardiologist, paediatric cardiac surgeon and a neonatologist were ready for any eventuality. The mother went into preterm labour after 31 weeks and a boy weighing just 1.8 kg was born by emergency C-Section. He was stabilised and transferred to neonatal intensive care unit.
Neonatologist, Dr Eswara Raja, had to support the baby on a ventilator for breathing as his lungs were immature. Dr Ranjith, paediatric cardiologist performed “balloon Atrial Septostomy” just one hour after birth. “Baby Ram Kishore did remarkably well and was discharged in good condition. Now the baby is healthy and weighs 9 kg on his first birthday,” a hospital source said.