Hyderabad : A team of doctors at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad successfully performed a rarecomplex cardiac surgery called ‘Double Switch Operation’ and gave a new lease of life totwo children with identical complex congenital heart disease. The procedure for both the children was done under the Aarogyasri scheme.

 

The first child, Muni Dimple is a 12-year-oldgirl  from Madanapalle of Chittoor district and the second child by name Lokesh Babu is a 6-year-old boy from Prakasam district; they came to the KIMS pediatric cardiac surgical team headed by Dr. D. Anil Kumar, Senior Consultant, Pediatric cardiac Surgeon. They have an uncommon condition where the blood comes to the heart in a reverse fashion to both the upper chambers and goes out of the heart also from the two major tubes in a reverse fashion. In view of this, the major pumping chamber of the heart on the left side (left ventricle) will be weak because it is pumping blood to the lungs instead of the body.

 

Incidentally, both the children had the first stage operation of PA banding two years ago to train the weak left ventricle. After being followed up closely for two years, both of them were ready for the double switch operation. In a gap of two weeks, both the children underwent the 12 hour long and a whole day technically challenging operation successfully.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D Anil Kumar said, “This condition is not very common and to do complete surgical correction, both the pathways coming into the heart and going out to the heart have to be switched which is called the double switch operation. This operation is the most complex and challenging surgery to the pediatric cardiac surgical team. This kind of complex and uncommon procedures needan expert team of doctors who have a clear understanding of the problem and a dedicated team approach to manage the intra operative and post operative care supported by a good infrastructure,”

 

“Our team of experts, in order to achieve this correction, the pumping chamber of the heart called the left ventricle needs training to improve its strength. To do this, a circular constricting band is placed in the tube that comes out of the left ventricle. This will make the ventricle work against resistance and will be trained in a matter of one or two years. Meanwhile, the child needs to be carefully and patiently followed up by the pediatric cardiologist to evaluate the amount of training of the ventricle. When the ventricle is fit and ready, the major double switch operation is done,” he added.

 

Fortunately, both had an uneventful and smooth recovery in the ICU and were discharged before Diwali. Both the children have a good functioning heart today that will enable them to lead a complete normal life.