Surgery gives newborn new life

Soon after the baby was born on September 19 at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Vashi,she was rushed to Wockhardt Hospital as her pulse rate was very low.

“The girl was brought to us in a very critical condition. Her heart beat was very low- 40 to 50 beats per minute. Normally newborns have a pulse rate of 110 to120 beats per minute,” said Dr Suresh Joshi,consultant pediatric cardiac surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital. On September 21,a day after she was admitted to Wockhardt Hospital,doctors performed the rare surgery on the baby.

“This case was technically difficult as the baby was underweight and the size and weight of the pacemaker was significant. The pacemaker fitted has occupied one third of the abdomen,” said Dr Joshi. The surgery lasted for a couple of hours.

“The wire electrodes connected to the pacemaker that generates electrical impulses were implanted on the muscles of abdominal valve where it is most protected,” said Dr Joshi. The life of a pacemaker is generally five to 10 years and it can be replaced. “We are grateful to the doctors for saving our child. She is the first girl in our family and is adored by all our relatives,” said the proud father.