Mangaluru: A six-year-old girl got a new lease on life after experts at AJ Hospital and Research Centre performed a rare procedure on her a few days ago.
This is the first time that this rare procedure has been performed in coastal Karnataka. Additionally, the procedure was done free of cost under the government scheme as the girl’s family wasn’t able to afford her treatment.
AJ Hospital Medical Director Dr Prashanth Marla, in a press releasse, informed that six-year-old Suma (name changed) was brought to the A J Hospital, Mangaluru with complaints of poor weight gain and fatigue while running and playing. In her early childhood, she had frequent cough and fever and had to visit the local doctor often. She was evaluated by Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Prem Alva, who diagnosed her with a rare congenital heart defect called Aorta-Pulmonary Window.
This is a condition where an abnormal connection is present between two blood vessels arising from the heart. She was given non-surgical treatment of the same. A device closure of the heart defect was done by Dr. Alva, supported by a cardiac anaesthesia team comprising Dr. Gururaj Tantry and Dr. Suhas. The child was discharged within two days of the procedure and is now able to attend school and play with her friends without any side effects, the press release said.
