A team of doctors at KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi have successfully performed a complex neonatal heart surgery on a 2.4 kg male baby with a rare congenital heart defect known as D-Transposition of the Great Arteries (d-TGA).
Thanks to the expertise of Dr. Manjunath Hukkeri, Gynaecologist, and Dr. Danish Memon, Paediatric Cardiologist who diagnosed the baby with d-TGA while still in the womb. Both the specialists did the regular follow-up and kept a close watch throughout the pregnancy. They ensured the baby remained stable during pregnancy and had an uneventful birth.
Immediately after birth, the baby was admitted under the care of Dr. S M Dhaded, Head of Neonatology at KLES Hospital. Dr. Danish Memon then performed a critical procedure called Balloon Atrial Septostomy (BAS) on the baby. This is a critical neonatal cardiac catheter intervention, where a hole is created inside the heart of the baby to improve the supply of oxygenated blood to the baby’s body. Dr. Danish performed this procedure through the umbilical cord of the baby, a first of a kind ever performed in KLES Hospital Belagavi. This life saving procedure helped to stabilise the baby further.
On the 10th day, the baby underwent the Arterial Switch Operation (ASO), a complex open heart surgery to correct the d-TGA. ASO is the only treatment option for d-TGA because it corrects the defect and allows the heart to function normally. In a 7 hour long delicate surgery, the two main arteries that carry blood out of the heart, the aorta and the pulmonary artery, are switched. The surgery was performed by Dr. Gananjay Salve, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, and the critical anaesthetic care was provided by Head of Cardiac Anaesthesia Dr. Sharangouda Patil and Senior Cardiac Anaesthetist Dr. Anand Vagaralli. The expert perfusion care and management was provided by an experienced team of perfusionists headed by Mr. Anand Ghorpade.
After a 7-hour long surgery, the baby was shifted to the Paediatric Intensive Thoracic Care Unit (PITU) under the care of Paediatric Cardiac Intensivist Dr. Nidhi Goel Manvi. After initial challenges during the recovery, the baby was well managed by Dr. Nidhi, the Cardiac Anaesthesia team, and the expert nursing team of the PITU.
The baby was extubated on day 3 after surgery and then sailed through his recovery. He was discharged from the hospital on the 10th day after surgery, which is one of the fastest ever expected recoveries for a 2.4 kg neonate who has undergone such a complex neonatal heart surgery. Parents hailing from low socio-economic background have thanked the doctors of KLE and Govt. of Karnataka for offering financial assistance through Arogya Karnataka-Ayushman Bharath Scheme
The KLES Hospital Belagavi is standing testimony of offering world-class healthcare to the neediest ones. It also highlights the importance of teamwork and collaboration among different medical professionals in providing the best possible care for patients.
Dr. Richard Saldanha, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon, and Dr. Mohan Gan, HOD Cardiothoracic Surgery, have congratulated the entire team. Dr. Prabhakar Kore, Chairman, and Col. Dr. Dayanand, Medical Director have applauded the team for successfully performing the rare surgery and saving the life of a new-born.
