Hyderabad: 7-month-old premature baby weighing 600 grams successfully undergoes heart procedure at KIMS

Doctors at KIMS, Gachibowli, successfully treated a 600-gram premature baby suffering from a heart condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Using a 1.2 mm Piccolo device through the leg artery, the team performed a minimally invasive procedure, saving the infant’s life

Hyderabad: Paediatric surgeons at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Gachibowli, on Tuesday announced the successful non-surgical treatment of a seven-month premature infant who had developed a serious heart condition known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).

The baby, born to a couple from Tolichowki, Hyderabad, at just seven months of gestation, had to be kept in the NICU for 97 days due to complications. During this period, the infant developed PDA, which, combined with respiratory issues, required ventilator support.

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Earlier, surgery to treat PDA by opening the chest was the only option. However, given the premature nature of the infant and extremely low weight of 600 grams, doctors decided to use a minimally invasive, state-of-the-art device to close the PDA through the leg artery.

A highly advanced device called Piccolo, only 1.2 millimetres in diameter, was inserted through the leg artery to close the PDA. Following the procedure, the baby recovered successfully, the PDA closed completely, and the infant’s overall health improved.

Senior paediatric cardiologist Dr Sudeep Varma, NICU doctors Dr Bhavani Deepti, Dr Sindhu Maru, and their team were involved in the procedure.