Doctors at the Army Institute of Cardio Thoracic Sciences (AICTS) in Pune have successfully treated a newborn with a severe congenital heart condition after using catheter-based procedures, an arterial switch operation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), according to information released by the Defence Ministry on November 13.
The child was born at Pune’s Command Hospital to a serving soldier deployed along the country’s borders. The newborn was medically unstable from birth and required urgent specialist intervention. A paediatric cardiology team first used catheter-based treatment to stabilise the child and prepare for definitive surgery.
The initial procedures included balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting. These interventions were required because the baby had a severe and complex congenital cardiac abnormality, making immediate treatment necessary. The Defence Ministry said the child’s delicate condition and the complex structure of the heart made the case particularly challenging.
The cardiac surgery team subsequently performed an arterial switch operation, removed the cardiac stent and closed an atrial septal defect (ASD). The operation was intended to correct the structural defects and restore normal blood circulation. The treatment required coordination between paediatric cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, neonatal intensive-care specialists and other medical professionals.
Following the operation, the newborn remained in a critical condition and was placed on advanced life-support systems. Doctors closely monitored the child’s cardiac and respiratory functions, with ECMO used to support the heart and lungs during the recovery period. The baby was successfully taken off ECMO after 40 hours, which the Defence Ministry described as an important step in the recovery.
The case highlights the role of specialised hospitals capable of combining advanced cardiac surgery, neonatal intensive care and ECMO support in a single treatment pathway. Such care requires accurate diagnosis and planning before surgery, coordinated intervention during the operation and continuous monitoring afterwards.
The Defence Ministry said the outcome demonstrated not only the technical capabilities of the cardiac surgery team but also the importance of coordinated care in treating congenital heart disease in newborns. It said the successful treatment brought relief to the child’s family and represented a significant achievement for the medical team. The newborn’s condition will continue to require specialised post-operative care and monitoring, although the source did not provide further details about the expected duration of hospitalisation.
