Bhubaneswar, July 23: The Department of Neonatology, Cardiology, and Cardiac Anesthesia at KIMS have successfully saved the life of a 10-day-old baby with a critical congenital heart disease, displaying impressive coordination and diligence.
The baby weighed 2.2 kg and was referred to KIMS with a suspected congenital heart disease. The newborn had required oxygen since birth and had persistently low oxygen levels. Upon arrival, the baby’s oxygen saturation was below 70 per cent, even with oxygen support and medication.
The second heart sound was singular, and a continuous murmur was detected. Further investigations using chest X-rays and echocardiography revealed a condition known as pulmonary atresia, where blood flow to both lungs is severely restricted. Babies with this condition can survive if they have an additional blood supply to the lungs, such as a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), but this naturally occurring connection often closes soon after birth.
Surgical options, such as a Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt, are available but carry significant risks, especially for infants weighing less than 2.5 kg.
The paediatric cardiology team, led by Dr. Asish Ranjan Mohakud, along with the neonatology unit and cardiac anesthesiologist Dr. Ashok Badamali, thoroughly evaluated the case. They decided on a less invasive yet highly effective approach: dilating and stenting the ductus arteriosus, a natural connection that was beginning to close.
Following the procedure, the infant’s oxygen levels improved dramatically, rising above 90 per cent. The immediate life-threatening condition was resolved, and the baby was able to maintain oxygen levels on room air and take feeds. This successful intervention also reduced the need for more invasive surgeries, minimizing the risks associated with prolonged anesthesia and recovery in such a young patient.
The precise coordination between the neonatology team, which stabilized and prepared the infant, the cardiology team, which performed the intricate stenting procedure, and the anaesthetic team exemplifies the pinnacle of patient-centred care and advancements in paediatric cardiology at KIMS Hospital.
