A preterm baby from Mauritius with critical congenital heart disease underwent a life-saving cardiac procedure at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

A 10-day-old baby from Mauritius, born preterm and with critical congenital heart disease and acute renal failure was flown to India, a distance of over 4600 km, for a life-saving cardiac procedure at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. The baby, after stabilization at Mauritius, was referred to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai for further treatment. At Apollo Hospitals, an emergency life-saving procedure, Coarctoplasty was performed that involved placing an absorbable stent to widen the narrowed portion of the baby’s aorta. The procedure was successful and the baby was able to breathe without the help of a mechanical ventilator after three days.

Dr. Bhushan Chavan, Consultant – Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai said, “The baby’s condition on arrival in India was critical. The baby had a critical congenital heart disease that required urgent intervention. We performed an emergency Coarctoplasty, which is a procedure to widen the narrowed portion of the aorta, using an absorbable stent. The use of an absorbable stent was a novel approach to the treatment of congenital heart disease. After the procedure, the baby’s condition showed significant improvement. Given the other problems that the baby had, it was a multi-disciplinary team effort that helped in providing the baby with comprehensive care.”

The baby was born prematurely through normal delivery in a hospital in Mauritius. However, shortly after birth, the baby was found to be limp, cyanosed, and having difficulty breathing. The baby was shifted to the Neonatal ICU where it was discovered that the baby was suffering from Critical congenital heart disease, acute renal failure, and dysmorphic features including bilateral low-set ears, hypertrophied hands and feet, and bilateral clubfoot. After stabilizing the heart, the baby was referred to Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai in India for advanced treatment and management.

After admission at Apollo Hospitals, the baby developed severe respiratory distress and had to be intubated and put on mechanical ventilation. Due to the critical cardiogenic shock with a renal shutdown, emergency cardiac management was initiated with emergency Coarctoplasty. A balloon Coarctoplasty with stenting using MERIL absorbable stent as a palliative procedure was done in the Cath lab. The baby was sedated and continued on mechanical ventilation. The baby showed clinical improvement and was gradually weaned off the ventilator after three days.

Mr. Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO – Western region, Apollo Hospitals, said, “At Apollo Hospitals, we are committed to providing the highest level of care to all our patients, including our youngest and most vulnerable ones. It is a matter of pride that families from as far away as Mauritius trust us to treat their loved ones and the successful management of this critical case is a testament to our team’s expertise and dedication to delivering the best possible outcomes. We are glad that our highly skilled doctors, nurses and support staff were able to ensure the health and well-being of this newborn. AHNM runs a very busy Pediatric Cardiology Institute, wherein a significant number of domestic and international patients are benefited from the comprehensive care provided in screening, surgical interventions, post-operative care and rehab services.”

The baby is now on the road to recovery and has been advised to follow up with a cardiologist in Mauritius and Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai after two months. This case highlights the importance of timely medical intervention and comprehensive care and is a demonstration of the world-class healthcare delivered at Apollo Hospitals.