A panel comprising senior-surgeons and paediatric cardiologists has decided to perform upon three-year-old girl Alina a rare and extremely delicate procedure to help reconstruct an artificial breast bone at the gap exposing her heart.
Dr Azhar Farooqui, NICVD Director briefing the journalists regarding proposed surgery to take place some time next week, said the panel which extensively deliberated upon the surgical option for child, following series of extensive tests, has decided to go for the surgery not conducted till date in South Asia.
According to Prof. Farooqi the procedure to be undertaken by a team, comprising seasoned thoracic surgeon Professor Iftikhar Rathore and his team including Cardiac Surgeon Akhter Hussein and Professor Younus Khatri would entail placement of an artificial structure along with an extensive process of skin grafting over the reconstructed sternum.
While there will be no chances of the artificial sternum getting shorter as the baby grows the skin will itself stretch with the passing age of the baby, he elaborated.
"Safety and survival of the child is also our top priority but at the same time a quality life for her is also prerequisite," the senior surgeon commented.
With regard to the condition, that is non-existent sternum exposing heart, NICVD Director said the congenital disorder is extremely rare and till date no more than 10 to 20 such cases have been globally reported.
The procedure conducted upon Alina would also perhaps be the first of its kind in the entire South Asian region.
With regard to arrangements made for the surgery, he said all arrangements have been finalised at Operation Theater, with particular care towards nil chances of infection.
Meanwhile, sessions have already been held for paramedics, nurses and other OT staff regarding the severity of the procedure, possible emergencies or complications and how to tackle the same.
The NICVD Director said that though the heart of baby is functionally absolutely normal, however, absence of sternum (the breast bone) is exposing the child vulnerability to severe condition with every passing year.
He observed that had Alina be brought at the early few months or even first year of her age there would had been much higher success chances of the surgical intervention adding that the growing age would make the procedure further difficult, hence the current time could be the best possible option.
Seeking prayer on part of masses for the success of the surgery and a new lease of life for Alina, Dr Farooqi said parents have been taken into full confidence and well informed of the intervention.
Professor Farooqi further mentioned that the child following successful surgery would be kept at the NICVD for a while and even after being sent home will be expected to visit the hospital for regular check-ups to avert any unexpected infection or complication.
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