Two-Month-Old Baby Treated for Rare Heart Condition at KIMS Cuddles Hospital

TAPVC is a congenital heart defect where the veins bringing oxygen-rich blood from the lungs do not connect normally to the heart. Instead of flowing to the left side Attrium of the heart to be pumped out to the body, the blood flows into the right side, where oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood mix. As a result, the baby’s body wasn’t receiving enough oxygenated blood, putting his life in grave danger.

Dr. Nikhil Tenneti, Chief Neonatologist at KIMS Cuddles, along with Dr. R. Santosh Kumar, Chief Intensivist in Pediatric ICU, and their team immediately assessed the baby’s deteriorating condition and determined that he required ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) support. ECMO is a life-support procedure often used in cases of severe heart and lung failure, especially when regular oxygen therapy is insufficient.

After three days on ECMO, the baby showed some signs of improvement, and his oxygen levels had stabilized enough for the doctors to consider further treatment. With the baby’s immediate life-threatening oxygen deficiency under control, the team decided to perform an open-heart surgery to correct the TAPVC and restore normal blood flow in the heart. The surgical team undertook the delicate operation.

The surgery was a success, but the baby’s recovery phase was equally critical. Due to his young age and low body weight, the baby needed continuous monitoring and specialized pediatric intensive care to avoid any post-surgical complications.

The baby’s condition gradually improved, and after 25 days of stay in the hospital, he was discharged. His recovery has been described as a testament to the skill, dedication, and teamwork of the medical professionals at KIMS Cuddles Hospital.