3-month-old Bangladeshi boy successfully operated for heart disease

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) Toqi Tahmida, a three-month-old Bangladeshi boy, suffering from a rare congenital heart defect was operated upon successfully here today.

The life saving operation was conducted by Dr T S Mahant, one of India's most renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon, specialising in paediatric cardiac surgery, at Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj.

''The baby was suffering from this defect since birth and did not have any clear demarcation of chambers and heart valves which were in the form of a tube. This defect had started affecting the functioning of lungs as well,'' Dr Mahant said.

''If this defect was left unattended for more than five or six months, then it would have become irreversible. Therefore, it was very crucial to perform the rectifying surgery at the earliest.

Considerion the age of the baby and associated malformation, this was a very complicated and complex procedure. In medical terminology this procedure is called 'Intra Cardiac Repair','' he added.

''Our child was suffering from a rare congenital heart disorder and the doctors had given up hope. Due to unavailability of proper equipment and technology we came to India with the hope to save our child's life. We went to Bangalore but there was no positive reaction from the doctors,'' Mrs and Mr Shahjahan Choudhary, the child's parents, said.

Dr Mahant, along with his team of expert doctors, performed the complicated five hour-long operation on the baby. Now the baby is gaining weight and breathing on his own. He will be dischaged by tommorow.

UNI XC SHB NK ND1814