Patna IGIC Rolls Out Free Device-Closure Heart Surgery Programme For Children; 30 Beneficiaries Identified

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC) will perform hole-in-the-heart closure procedures for 30 selected children from the state using the advanced device closure technique. These surgeries will be conducted free of cost under the Mukhyamantri Bal Hriday Yojana and the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).

The children, shortlisted at the Civil Surgeon level, will be operated on by a team of specialists from IGIC, led by Dr Neeraj Awasthi, Director of Paediatric Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. The surgeries will take place in the cath lab on the second floor of IGIC, allowing the holes in the heart to be closed without major surgery, IGIC Director Dr Sunil Kumar said.

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Specialists from Delhi, including Dr NK Agarwal and Dr Ambikanandan Bharatwasi, will be at IGIC on Wednesday and Thursday for the procedures.

Programme nodal officer and Joint Director Dr Birendra Kumar Singh said children with congenital heart defects often suffer from pneumonia, breathing difficulties, poor feeding, and developmental delays. While these surgeries cost between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh in private hospitals, IGIC is offering them completely free.

Dr Birendra Kumar Singh explained that a baby’s heart forms gradually during pregnancy. Any interruption in this development can prevent the septum (the heart’s dividing wall) from forming completely, resulting in a hole. Genetic factors also play a role; children are more likely to have the condition if there is a family history of heart defects.

The risk increases if the mother contracts rubella (German measles) or other viral infections in early pregnancy. Certain medications, alcohol consumption, smoking, or drug use can also affect the baby’s heart development. Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy heightens the risk. Premature babies have a higher chance of being born with heart defects.

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Common Symptoms of a Hole in the Heart

-Frequent pneumonia or persistent coughing

-Tiredness or shortness of breath during feeding

-Poor weight gain

-Rapid breathing

-Fast heartbeat

-Excessive sweating

-Bluish lips while crying (in some cases)