A one-day-old newborn suffering from Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a rare and life-threatening congenital heart defect, underwent a high-risk arterial switch operation at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla, New Delhi, Wednesday.
The defect was detected during a prenatal scan, prompting urgent medical intervention. A team led by Dr. Neeraj Awasthy successfully performed the complex surgery using advanced pediatric cardiac techniques, ensuring the baby’s survival.
The abnormality was first detected during a routine 20-week ultrasound scan, which raised concerns about possible cardiac defects. A subsequent fetal echocardiogram confirmed the presence of severe congenital heart disease, necessitating a well-coordinated medical plan before birth.
Under the care of Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja, Senior Director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Fortis La Femme, the mother underwent a planned C-section delivery, ensuring both maternal and neonatal safety. Immediately after birth, the newborn was transferred to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute for specialized cardiac evaluation and urgent intervention.
On the second day of life, Dr. Awasthy performed a Balloon Atrial Septostomy, a minimally invasive procedure aimed at stabilizing the baby by improving oxygen levels. This procedure involved inserting a catheter with a balloon into the heart to create a hole between the upper chambers, allowing better circulation. This critical step ensured the baby’s survival until the major corrective surgery could be performed.
Following stabilization, Dr. Awasthy and Dr. K.S. Iyer, Chairman of Paediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, led a high-risk Arterial Switch Operation. This intricate open-heart surgery, lasting three hours, successfully restored normal blood flow by repositioning the arteries. Given the infant’s low birth weight of 1.8 kg, the medical team initiated gavage feeding—a method of tube feeding through the nose—to help the baby gain weight and build strength before the operation. By the time of surgery, the baby had reached 2.3 kg, significantly improving her chances of recovery.
Dr. Awasthy emphasized the importance of early diagnosis through fetal echocardiograms, stating that prenatal detection played a crucial role in saving the infant’s life. Dr. Iyer highlighted the complexity of the case, noting that without timely intervention, the baby would not have survived. Dr. Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director at Fortis Escorts, commended the medical team’s expertise and the use of advanced technology in pediatric cardiology.
After 16 days of post-surgical care, the baby was discharged in stable condition, marking a significant medical success in neonatal cardiac surgery.
