Doctors use selective cerebral perfusion technique in complex cardiac surgeries

A team of Doctors at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS Hospitals), a healthcare provider in the two Telugu States recently performed an extremely complex procedure to rectify defects in the hearts of two newborn babies. The procedures were performed under the able guidance of Dr. D. Anil Kumar, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, KIMS Hospitals and they leased new life to the babies with complex cardiac problem of severe coarctation of aorta with hypoplasia and associated large hole in the heart called ventricular septal defect (VSD).

According to the two case dairies, the babies were admitted two-weeks apart and aged under a month, were victims of coarctation of aorta (the major tube that comes out from the heart and supplies blood to the entire body) with hypoplastic aortic arch that is associated with a considerably large hole in the young hearts, called ventricular septal defect or VSD. The babies were underweight and had breathing-related problems, turning these cases more complex in nature.

Commenting on the procedure and its success, Dr D. Anil Kumar, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, KIMS Hospitals said, “The complexity in performing these surgeries was in the fact that in the past, blood circulation to the brain was arrested via deep cooling, which is considered inappropriate. We at KIMS Hospitals have pioneered a technique called ”selective cerebral perfusion”, a method in which blood circulation to the brain is not stopped. Also, considering the tender nature of the heart muscles in newborn babies, we have taken utmost care during closing of the hole in the heart because the heart muscle in these newborn babies is as tender as butter”.

The two babies, who are from Adilabad and Visakhapatnam districts, have recovered from the ailments and will be ready to lead a healthy and normal life in the times to come.