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Weighing only 2.5 kg and reliant on a ventilator, the child was suffering from severe pneumonia, anaemia, and a congenital heart defect known as PDA
The four-month-old infant was referred from Darbhanga to Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital in critical condition. (Local18)
Doctors in Patna have once again achieved a remarkable medical milestone. For the first time, a successful heart surgery has been performed on a child weighing just 2.5 kg. This ground-breaking procedure was carried out by the team at Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital, operated by the Mahavir Mandir Trust.
The four-month-old infant was referred from Darbhanga to Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital in critical condition. Weighing only 2.5 kg and reliant on a ventilator, the child was suffering from severe pneumonia, anaemia, and a congenital heart defect known as PDA. Battling multiple life-threatening conditions at such a tender age, the child’s survival was in jeopardy.
Team Effort
Upon arrival, the child required immediate intensive care. He underwent two blood transfusions and was treated for pneumonia and infection. With gradual improvement, his weight increased to 2.5 kg, but the greatest challenge remained: closing the hole in his heart.
Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Director of the institute, and Dr Prabhat Kumar, Head of the Cardiology Department, stated that the child also displayed syndromic features (congenital malformations). Open-heart surgery was deemed too risky given the infant’s fragile condition. Instead, the team opted for a transcatheter device closure, a minimally invasive technique, to successfully repair the heart defect.
Following the surgery, the child began breastfeeding and crying, showing positive signs of recovery. Doctors have confirmed that he will be discharged within a day or two.
Quality Treatment At Low Cost
Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital is known for providing high-quality treatment for complex cardiac conditions at affordable rates. While such a procedure could cost between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh in other hospitals, it was performed here for Rs 80,000.
Dr Prabhat noted this is the first successful heart surgery on a child weighing 2.5 kg in Bihar. He also mentioned that the hospital routinely performs surgeries for children with congenital heart defects.