Karnataka - Bangalore   

Little Ahmed operated on

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 31. Little Mohammed Ahmed is asleep at the intensive care unit of Narayana Hrudayalaya here, his heart beating softly after surgery.

The 11-day-old baby from Rawalpindi in Pakistan was operated upon by doctors at the hospital on Saturday for a heart condition called transposition of the great arteries.

"The arterial switch operation was conducted successfully today. The baby was shifted to the intensive care unit and his condition is stable," Deviprasad Shetty, chairman and managing director of Narayana Hrudayalaya, told The Hindu .

Since the baby is not out of danger, he will be kept under observation for 48 hours.

The complex operation lasted almost six hours, Dr. Shetty said.

Ahmed's is a major defect in which the right ventricle of the heart connects to the aorta and the left to the pulmonary artery, which are opposite for a normal heart.

Dr. Shetty said the baby would have to stay in the hospital for at least two weeks before being discharged.

On Wednesday, Ahmed developed complications when he was travelling on an Indian Airlines flight to Bangalore with his mother and uncle, to get treatment at Narayana Hrudayalaya.

A doctor on board the flight attended to Ahmed and said the child needed immediate medical attention. The flight was then diverted to Hyderabad where the baby was given emergency medical care at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, a gesture that saved his life.

"Because of low oxygen levels, the baby developed complications on the flight," Dr. Shetty said.

Dr. Rajesh Sharma, paediatric cardiac surgeon, headed the team that operated upon the baby.

It was Dr. Sharma who operated upon little Noor Fatima, who was brought to the hospital a year ago for treatment of a hole in her heart.

`Overwhelmed'

"I am overwhelmed by the help given to us by the Indians," Aasma Khan, Ahmed's mother says, but the creases of worry linger as the baby is still not out of danger.

"I am praying to Allah that my baby recovers fast," she said.

"The people at the hospital have been very nice to us, especially Dr. Sharma, who is looking after Ahmed.

But what will forever remain with me is the kindness shown to us by all Indians who rushed to help us on the Indian Airlines flight when the baby developed complications and also in Hyderabad and Bangalore. The cooperation and help extended to us is overwhelming," Ms. Khan said.

The baby had been treated in various hospitals in Rawalpindi and in Islamabad where one of the doctors suggested that Ahmed be brought to Bangalore, she said.

"I have not seen much of India and it is my first visit here. But once my child is well, I will like to come back again," Ms. Khan said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Little Ahmed operated on
• Admissions: Colleges told to follow new law
• A day of chaos for medical seat aspirants
• New prices for petrol, diesel
• Around the City
• In Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu