Pune: In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at a city hospital successfully treated a newborn with a severe congenital heart defect in Indapur taluka. The baby, diagnosed with critical congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD), was born with a life-threatening condition that had been suspected during pregnancy and confirmed just hours after birth through an electrocardiogram (ECG). At birth, the baby weighed only 2.1 kg and had an alarmingly low oxygen level of just 40%, compared to the normal range of 96%.
A team of specialists at VishwaRaj Hospital in Loni performed an innovative ductal stenting procedure to save the baby’s life. Remarkably, the baby was discharged just three days after the surgery. This procedure is crucial, as it serves as a temporary solution that will allow for a corrective surgery in ten months.
Dr. Ashish Banpurkar, a pediatric cardiologist, explained the condition, stating, “The pulmonary artery, which is responsible for carrying blood to the lungs, was completely blocked in this newborn. This condition, known as Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia (TOF/PA), severely affects blood flow to the lungs. Medically, it’s referred to as a case of duct-dependent pulmonary circulation.”
To stabilize the baby, the medical team first improved his oxygen levels and conducted a cardiac intervention. A prostaglandin infusion was administered, raising the oxygen levels to 85%. While this was a temporary fix, it was clear that a more immediate procedure was necessary. The team opted for a ductal stenting procedure, which involves placing a stent into the ductus arteriosus, a temporary opening in the baby’s heart that allows blood to bypass the lungs before birth.
Dr. Banpurkar elaborated on the technique, “Normally, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth. When it remains open, it is referred to as a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). In this case, the stenting procedure allows blood to flow into the pulmonary artery, providing time for the artery to grow and develop. While not a permanent solution, it buys us crucial time for further treatment.”
This procedure was performed using the relatively new ‘percutaneous transcarotid approach,’ in which a stent is inserted into the carotid artery in the neck rather than the more traditional femoral artery in the groin. This method offers better visualization and easier access to the PDA, making it a more effective choice for such delicate procedures.
While traditional treatments for similar conditions often involve the use of a Blalock–Thomas–Taussig (BT) shunt, Dr. Banpurkar emphasized that ductal stenting is a less invasive and more reasonable option for this type of heart defect.
This life-saving procedure has brought hope for the baby’s recovery, with plans for a corrective surgery to be carried out later this year.
