A baby born with critical disorders underwent a life-saving cardiac surgery within 48 hours of birth. Doctors at Fortis Hospital on Bannerghatta Road successfully operated on the newborn to correct a congenital heart defect known as Coarctation of the Aorta.
The baby was also treated for a critical intestinal infection known as Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NCE) soon after.
The team of doctors was led by Joseph Xavier, Consultant, Adult and Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon at the hospital.
He said that the baby needed urgent surgery as it had difficulty in breathing soon after birth. “Any delay would increase pressure in the heart with serious implications on his heart and other vital organs. Coarctation of Aorta is a congenital condition where the aorta is critically narrow. This is a life threatening condition, as the main job of the aorta is to distribute oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. The emergency surgery helped correct many problems arising from CoA, like irregular heart beat or Arrhythmia and heart failure,” he said.
Five weeks later, another surgery was performed to treat Ventricular Septal Defect (hole in the heart). The newborn was supported by artificial ventilation as his lungs were weak. Later, the baby developed kidney failure, which was treated conservatively, the doctor said.
“After four months of an extraordinary fight for survival, he is now fully fit. For his remarkable endurance and spirit of life, we fondly call him the wonder baby,” the doctor added.
