A team of doctors at AIIMS Rishikesh successfully saved the life of a 7-year-old girl suffering from a rare congenital heart condition where the major arteries of her heart were reversed. This life-saving surgery, the first of its kind in Uttarakhand, involved swapping the atrial chambers of the heart. The girl, now fully recovered, has been discharged from the hospital.
The patient, Radhika (name changed), hails from Bhangerola in Uttar Pradesh. For the past year, she had been facing severe breathing difficulties. Since birth, she exhibited cyanosis, a condition where the skin turns bluish due to lack of oxygen. Her family had sought treatment at several hospitals in Uttar Pradesh but found no solution. In a last attempt, they brought her to AIIMS Rishikesh, where extensive tests revealed that she was suffering from a rare congenital heart disease called “Transposition of the Great Arteries” (TGA). In this condition, the major arteries leaving the heart are reversed, leading to improper oxygen circulation in the body.
Dr. Anish Gupta, a pediatric cardiac surgeon in the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department at AIIMS Rishikesh, conducted thorough examinations and, after receiving consent from the family, planned the complex surgery. Before proceeding, Dr. Bhanu Duggal, head of cardiology, and Dr. Yash Srivastava conducted an echocardiography and angiography to assess the situation in detail. Dr. Anish Gupta explained that TGA is a life-threatening condition, and in most cases, 90% of babies born with this disease die within a few days if not treated promptly. Ideally, surgery for this condition should be performed within the first three weeks of life.
Radhika’s case was particularly challenging because she did not have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which made an arterial switch operation more complicated. Instead of switching the arteries, the surgical team opted for a “Senning operation,” where the atrial chambers of the heart were swapped. This allowed the heart to function properly, significantly improving her oxygen levels from 65% to 95%.
The surgical team included Dr. Danishwar Meena from the CTVS department, along with Dr. Ajay Mishra from the anesthesia department. The department head, Professor Anshuman Darbari, and Dr. Namrata Gaur described the surgery as a major achievement for the department.
AIIMS Rishikesh’s executive director, Professor (Dr.) Meenu Singh, and Medical Superintendent Professor Sanjeev Kumar Mittal commended the surgical team for the successful completion of this highly complex procedure, praising their dedication and expertise in saving the young girl’s life.
