New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) A 26-year-old man’s dream of joining the Merchant Navy had to be put on hold after a routine check-up detected a large congenital hole in his heart, forcing him to undergo surgery at a Delhi hospital.
According to a statement, doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital in Okhla, where the procedure was performed, said an echocardiogram revealed a large atrial septal defect (ASD) in the man’s heart, a congenital opening between the two upper chambers.
Although he had undergone mandatory medical screening before joining the service, the defect had not been detected on an ECG. The condition was subsequently found to be allowing excess blood flow to the lungs and putting additional strain on the right side of his heart, following which he was declared medically unfit for service.
The condition was allowing excess blood to flow to the lungs and putting additional strain on the right side of his heart. He was subsequently declared medically unfit for service, putting his plans to work at sea on hold, the statement read.
The cardiac team at the hospital repaired the defect using the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, accessing the heart through small ports and a limited incision instead of splitting the breastbone as in conventional open-heart surgery.
“The patient was aspiring to join the Merchant Navy but was unable to pursue the opportunity because of his ASD. Since the defect was large and not suitable for device closure, we chose a robotic-assisted surgical approach,” said Dr Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, Senior Director, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Fortis Escorts Hospital.
The defect was closed using a specialised patch, with doctors saying the surgery was completed without complications and the patient was taken off the ventilator on the same day.
Hospital authorities said the patient recovered smoothly and was discharged in stable condition with normal heart function.
They said the size and anatomy of the defect made it unsuitable for closure through a catheter-based device, which can be used for some ASDs.
The patient said he had never experienced major symptoms and had remained active, making the diagnosis particularly difficult as it put his plans of working at sea at risk.
The hospital said the minimally invasive approach was chosen considering his young age, otherwise fit health and the need for a faster recovery.
The case highlights how congenital heart defects can remain undetected even in young and active individuals until they undergo more detailed cardiac evaluation, doctors said. PTI MSJ APL
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