Blue babies in pink of health after free-of-cost stenting procedures

Aligarh: A team of surgeons from the Paediatric Cardiac Evaluation and Cardiac Surgery (PCE-CS) Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) recently performed Right Ventricular Outflow (RVOT) Stenting to give 12 ‘blue babies,’ a fresh lease of life. The procedure was done free-of-cost under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), National Health Mission.

These infants, born with congenital heart defects were referred to JNMC from various UP districts. After successful stenting procedures, which secured the physiological direction of pulsating blood flow, enabling symmetric growth of arteries; these children will undergo open-heart operations for complete repair to go in pink of their health.

Dr Azam Haseen, Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery said that parents of these children couldn’t get them treated due to inadequate facilities in various district hospitals and higher costs in private hospitals.

“Under the RBSK scheme, the stenting process was done free of cost and now the surgeries to follow will be easier,” said Dr Shaad Abqari, Nodal Officer, RBSK.

Dr Mirza Mohd Kamran, Paediatric Cardiologist said, “It was a challenging procedure, which required specially trained surgeons. Before the stenting procedures, the condition of these children was critical and it was not possible to conveniently perform surgeries on these 12 infants for complete repair.”

Prof Tabassum Shahab, Convener, PCE-CS said that RBSK scheme treatments in JNMC are benefitting patients from the lower economic strata in large numbers.