NE HEALTH BUREAU
KOLKATA, JULY 22
Medica Superspecialty Hospital’s congenital heart disease team has given a new lease of life to a 11-month-old infant,, Anjali Das, from Midnapore on June 21.
The team of doctors from the departments of pediatric cardiology and CTVS under the leadership of Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi, Pediatric Cardiology and Dr Mrinal Bandhu Das, CTVS, Cardiac anesthesia and intensive care support provided by Dr Dipanjan Chatterjee and Dr Apran Chakraborty helped achieve this momentous feat on June 21.
During the dreadful COVID -19 pandemic, when the entire nation was witnessing more than thousands of deaths in a single day, Das family cherished the moment when a baby girl (Anjali Das) was born. The family members rejoiced the incident as the second baby girl stepped in their household. After few months, when Anjali was 5 months old, she started to develop chronic cold symptoms. Her family members did not take the matter seriously and Anjali was being treated by the local alternative medicine specialists until one day when things got serious, and her family took her to the local government hospital.
Post the consultation, the doctor knew there was something wrong and asked them to consult a specialist in Kolkata. She was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart disease where the main blood vessels taking blood from heart to body and the lungs got exchanged in origin along with a large communication in the lower chamber of the heart. They were screened by medical college team and referred by the Health department, Government of West Bengal under Sishusathi programme to Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata.
Members of her family along with the help of local neighbors brought her to Medica on an urgent basis as the situation was worsening gradually. It took more than 4 hours’ drive to reach Medica from her village Gopiballavpur, Midnapore and finally after the successful operation was discharged from Medica on 5th June 2021. Baby Anjali was evaluated and cathetarized by Dr Anil Singhi and team, surgery was performed by Dr Mrinal Bandhu Das, anesthesia and intensive care done by ITU team lead by Dr Dipanjan Chatterjee and Dr Arpan Chakraborty.
Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi, who led the team of pediatric cardiology commented, “The little girl had visited us in a critically ill state with a failing heart and rapidly deteriorating health. After the thorough check up, we decided that the baby required an immediate heart surgery as the complex heart defect like this should ideally have been repaired by three to four months of age. When she was admitted at Medica she was 10 months with poor weight gain. The major congenital cardiac disease which is called Transposition of great arteries, Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) usually becomes irreparable near 9- 12 months of age . These complex heart surgeries are done at the early phase but as she was quite old enough, so the surgery incurred huge risk. But we had no options left.”
Dr. Mrinal Bandhu Das, operating surgeon further commented, “There was fear in the family members’ minds, and they were scared and doubtful whether they would want to opt for the surgery. Anjali’s mother was counselled by expert counsellors from Medica which helped her to understand the risk and benefits of the surgery. Ultimately, they were convinced and trusted the assessment of paediatric cardiology team including the decision of doing a cardiac catheterization. Finally, Anjali underwent successful repair by the CTVS and anesthesia team on 21st June 2021 requiring a high-risk arterial switch operation and VSD surgical closure and PDA Ligation was done by the CTVS team and others. She was managed well post-operation by the ICU team.” Dr Diapnajan Chatterjee, senior consultant from CTVS anesthesia team felt the teamwork of the CTVS ICU was the key in managing the postoperative care of such a high-risk baby.
Dr. Arpan Chakraborty, ECMO Physician, Medica Superspecialty Hospital said, “Post cardiac surgical intensive care, constant supervision and expertise from a dedicated team, Anjali’s marvellous recovery proved our sincere team effort.”
Dr. Alok Roy, Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals and Chair FICCI Health Services Committee stated, “The risk is always high while operating these kinds of cardiac issues and specially when the baby is just 11-months old. Advances in science and medicine have made cardiac surgeries safer and a real option in managing cases of end stage heart failure. Cardiac care at Medica Superspecialty Hospital is well established and ranked amongst the finest in the country. Our goal is to provide the highest quality of patient-centered care, right here in India, utilizing our interdisciplinary approach, enormous talent and the multi-skilled resources within our team of highly accomplished doctors led by Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi , Dr Mrinal Bandhu Das. I on behalf of Medica applaud their feat on this special surgery. I am sure we will be able to become the Centre of Excellence and will benefit many of our patients who will no longer have to seek treatment abroad for heart failure.”
Anjali Das, the little baby girl was discharged with a very satisfying post-operative evaluation after 10 days of the surgery and is slowly getting back to her normal life. Her shy smile and her soft giggles trying to say “ba ba ba” has filled the family members’ heart with enormous joy.
This is a part of Medica’s Advanced Heart Lung Support program, which has performed more than 140 ECMO’s, numerous Heart transplants, Pediatric Cardiology and many more.
