Young girl with rare genetic disorder undergoes heart surgery at Gandhi Hospital

Doctors at Gandhi Hospital successfully performed a complex heart surgery on a 25-year-old woman with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Despite multiple health complications, the high-risk procedure corrected a heart defect and leaking valve, saving her life.

Hyderabad: Gandhi Hospital doctors have successfully conducted a heart surgery on a 25-year-old girl from Asifabad, who suffers from Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects every part of the body.

With the girl’s heart failing due to a large 2.5 cm hole and a leaking heart valve, the cardiothoracic team took up a life-saving emergency heart surgery. At the same time, the doctors also had to manage multiple health complications such as type-I diabetes, central obesity, genetic eye disorder and intellectual disability.

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After unsuccessful treatments at several private hospitals, the patient, Pallavi, was referred to MGM Warangal and later to Gandhi Hospital for specialised care. She was admitted with respiratory distress and heart palpitations.

Doctors said Bardet-Biedl syndrome is caused by mutations in various genes such as BBS1, BBS2, and BBS4 and the patients suffer from multiple complications such as obesity, vision loss, renal abnormalities and cognitive impairment.

Dr Ravindra, Head, Cardiothoracic Surgery, announced the surgical team successfully performed a complex procedure involving Mitral Valve AML repair with pericardial annuloplasty and closure of the Ostium Primum ASD.