Tiny Heart Warrior: Infant's Life Saved by Innovative Procedure

Cardiologists at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital have successfully treated a six-month-old infant with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart defect.

The infant, weighing 4.5 kg, experienced poor weight gain, breathing difficulties, and recurrent respiratory infections due to the condition where a blood vessel connecting the heart and lungs failed to close after birth.

Due to the infant's low body weight, standard PDA closure devices were not suitable. The medical team, led by Dr. Parminder Singh Manghera, ingeniously used a modified vascular plug, typically not used for PDA closure, to seal the abnormal blood vessel.

This extraordinary procedure, carried out with support from Dr. Veena Chatrath, Dr. Milind, and the anesthesia team, was performed free of charge under the Chief Minister's Health Scheme. This intervention was critical, as such procedures are generally approved for children over 5 kg and could cost up to ₹7 lakh in private hospitals.