Low Birth-Weight Baby Gets New Life at KIMS Hospital
In a remarkable collaboration and care by the Department of Neonatology, Cardiology and Cardiac Anaesthesia, the life of a New-born with critical congenital heart disease was saved.
A 10 days old baby with birth weight of 2.2Kg was referred to KIMS with a suspicion of congenital heart disease due to persistence of oxygen requirement and low oxygen saturation since birth.
The baby, at receipt, was maintaining saturation of less than 70%on oxygen prongs and on prostaglandin infusion. The second heart sound was single and a continuous murmur was present. Chest x ray and ECHO revealed less flow of blood to both lungs due to a congenital heart disease called pulmonary atresia. Such patients can survive if there is any additional blood supply to the lungs such as the presence of a PDA. However, afterbirth the PDA tends to close spontaneously. Surgical options like BT shunt can be done but it has serious morbidity and mortality especially in small babies who are less than 2.5 kgs.
The Paediatric cardiology team led by Dr. Asish Ranjan Mohakud, in collaboration with the neonatology unit of KIMS and cardiac anaesthesiologist Dr. Ashok Badamali, evaluated the case properly and opted for an invasive yet highly effective solution in this baby i.e. dilating; stenting the naturally present but collapsing connection (ductus arteriosus) to lungs.
Post-intervention the infant’s oxygenation improved significantly (>90% SpO2), and the immediate threat to life was averted. The baby maintained oxygen saturation on room air, took the feeds and got hemodynamically stable. The procedure’s success also reduced the need for more invasive surgeries, thereby minimizing the risks associated with prolonged anaesthesia and recovery in such a young patient.
The precise coordination between the neonatology team, which stabilized and prepared the infant, the cardiology team, which performed the intricate stenting procedure and the anaesthetic team exemplify the pinnacle of patient-centred care and advancement in the field of Paediatric cardiology at KIMS hospital.