Balloon Angioplasty | 10-day-old baby with congenital heart defect saved at Fortis Mohali

Jammu, Feb 23: In a one-of-its kind case, the Department of Paediatric Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital Mohali, successfully saved the life of a 10-day-old baby - who was extremely underweight at 1.3 kg and suffering from “Coarctation of Aorta” - through Balloon Angioplasty.

Coarctation of Aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect and causes narrowing of the aorta (main heart artery), thereby obstructing the flow of blood. This defect puts excessive pressure on the heart and a delay in surgery can affect the heart, lungs and endanger the child’s life.

Addressing a press conference here, Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatric Cardiac Sciences Fortis Hospital Mohali, Dr Rajat Gupta said that the baby was put on life-saving medicines and shifted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where her parents approached him, in October 2023.

Led by Dr Rajat Gupta, the medical team swiftly intervened to address the baby’s critical condition. “Balloon Angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, was performed to open the narrowed artery through a tiny incision in the neck, thus avoiding the need for open-heart surgery,” Dr Gupta said.

Dr Gupta emphasized the importance of early detection and intervention in cases of congenital heart defects, highlighting that timely treatment was crucial to prevent irreversible damage to the child’s heart.

He said, “Balloon Angioplasty can serve as a life-saving measure for newborns too fragile to undergo immediate surgical intervention.”

Following the procedure, the baby’s health stabilised, and she was discharged from the hospital. However, in December 2023, she underwent a second Balloon Angioplasty to further improve blood flow to her body.

“Post-surgery, the baby’s health has significantly improved, and she has shown remarkable weight gain. The Department of Paediatric Cardiac Sciences at Fortis Hospital Mohali is renowned for its expertise in treating complex congenital heart conditions. Serving patients not only from Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh but also from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mongolia, and South Africa, the department remains committed to providing exceptional care to children with cardiac ailments,” Dr Gupta said.