Rare heart surgery gives Omani infant fresh breath of life

Yaseen, who turned one this month, had a rare congenital heart disease and narrowing of airway passages, which lead to respiratory infections and heightened the risk of cardiac arrest. 

Doctors in Oman, referred the baby to the hospital. With large Ventricular Septal Defect, a defect in the ventricular and Patent Ductus Arteriosus or an unclosed hole in the aorta, he was on ventilator for two months.

The team recently performed the combined cardiac and thoracic surgery. Lasting for six hours, the procedure involved cardiac, thoracic, anaesthesia and critical care teams. 

Elaborating on the risks involved in performing the procedure, Dr Rajan Santosham, Thoracic Surgeon, said, “It was a very challenging procedure considering the infant’s age and the fragile condition of both his heart and windpipe. But thanks to careful planning of our teams, from across cardiac to anaesthesia, we were able to successfully perform the surgery.”

“The success of the procedure confirms the potential for safe and effective access to combined cardiac and tracheal surgeries to be performed in India. The child Yaseem is breathing naturally for the first time since 2 months of being on ventilator,” said Dr Neville Solomon, Pediatric Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai.