Surgeons at Fortis Hospital perform Hybrid Surgery on 8yr old boy suffering from structurally abnormal heart

Mumbai : A team of Cardiac Surgeons, Radiologist and Cardiologists from Fortis Hospital, Mulund performed ‘Hybrid Surgery’ on little Mahesh ; an 8 yr old male from Ahmednagar, who was diagnosed with a heart condition in which, one chamber of the heart, the Right ventricle (RV) was small and non-functioning. The patient was brought into the hospital when his heart could no longer supply blood to the lungs due toits structural abnormality. The child’s skin had a tinge of blue at all times and he could no longer walk without grasping for breath at every step.

In such a situation,the patient generally undergoes surgery twice, within a gap of few months to years; 1 st-stage surgery the GLENN Procedure followed by the FONTAN Procedure.The second surgery is complicated with higher risk. It also induces mental and physical trauma for the child and family.Since the surgeries are complex, severe complications could arise, requiring the patients to be hospitalized for longer duration's.

At Fortis hospital Mulund, instead of performing a conventional two stage procedure, the boy underwent the‘Hybrid Surgery’ i.e. the first stage surgery followed by interventional procedure (no second surgery). Dr Vijay Agarwal, Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Dr Girish Warawdekar, Dr. Interventional Radiologist and Dr Hasmukh Ravat, Sr. Interventional Cardiologist jointly performed the procedures.

Impure blood from the head and upper body was directed straight to the lungs in the 1^st stage in an open heart surgery and in the 2^nd stage the same was done for blood in lower body to the lungs, and partly heart by interventional {non-surgical) procedure. The innovation is to do the 2nd stage without an operation thereby avoiding long post-operative stay and risks associated it. Though ‘Hybrid procedure’ is performed abroad, till date institutions in India perform the traditional two stage surgery. This procedure was performed for the 1^st time in India for this congenital heart disease.

Commenting about this case, Dr Vijay Agarwal, Chief Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund said, “Mahesh has been very brave; normally patients find it difficult to cope with the pre-operative condition. Hybrid Procedure is a very high risk and our young patient has emerged a survivor; out team worked relentlessly to ensure that he goes back to this family”.

Commenting on this case, Dr Hasmukh Ravat, Sr. Interventional Cardiologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said,“Mahesh underwent the Hybrid surgery which was necessary to save his life, many thanks to the Chief Ministers Relief fund and Fortis Foundation, the family did not face any financial hurdles”.

Dr Girish Warawdekar Sr. Interventional Radiologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund said,“This unique approach resulted into what our little patient’s parents hoped for. Mahesh did not have to undergo second surgery or blood transfusion.The patient is now leading a good quality of life”.