New Delhi: Doctors at a Delhi private hospital performed a minimally invasive cardiac procedure on a pre-term newborn barely 40 minutes after birth, restoring heart function in what doctors described as one of the most challenging neonatal cardiac emergencies they had handled. The girl was born with a critically narrowed aortic valve, severely weakened heart muscle, and significant fluid accumulation around the heart — a combination of conditions that often carries a poor prognosis. The complication was first detected during a fetal ultrasound at 30 weeks of pregnancy at another city hospital. After the diagnosis, the parents consulted specialists at Fortis Escorts Okhla, where a multidisciplinary team led by paediatric cardiologist Dr Neeraj Awasthy began planning an emergency intervention to save the unborn child. At 31 weeks of pregnancy, the baby was delivered via caesarean section at the referral hospital. Within minutes, a team from Fortis Escorts — including paediatric cardiologists, neonatologists, anaesthetists and critical care staff — reached the facility. The newborn was intubated and stabilised within 15 minutes of birth before being prepared for the cardiac intervention. Using ultrasound-guided vascular access, doctors carried out a balloon aortic valvotomy, a catheter-based procedure used to open a narrowed aortic valve, within the golden hour of birth. The intervention was completed within 40 minutes of the baby’s birth. Post-procedure echocardiography showed the valve had opened successfully and heart function had improved significantly, marking a dramatic turnaround in a case that initially appeared nearly hopeless. “This was one of the most complex fetal cardiac cases we handled, given the severity of valve narrowing, heart muscle damage, and fluid overload,” said Dr Neeraj Awasthy, director of paediatric cardiology at Fortis Escorts Okhla. “Early planning and rapid execution were critical. Intervening within the golden hour allowed us to restore heart function and give the child a real chance at survival.” Following the procedure, the newborn was shifted to the neonatal nursery, where doctors focused on stabilisation and weight gain. After several days of specialised care, the baby recovered steadily and was later discharged. Hospital authorities said the case demonstrated the importance of prenatal diagnosis, rapid coordination between hospitals, and timely intervention in managing critical congenital heart defects in newborns. Fortis Escorts Okhla facility director Dr Vikram Aggarwal said saving a life minutes after birth requires precise coordination and preparedness across departments.
