First pediatric open-heart surgery performed at NICVD Sukkur

KARACHI: The pediatric cardiothoracic surgery team at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Sukkur recently performed a successful open-heart surgery procedure on a five-year-old child.

The NICVD created history in the world of cardiac care when a two-member team of surgeons including Dr Sohail Khan Bangash (Head of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, NICVD) and Dr Muhammad Iqbal (Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, NICVD) along with anesthesiologist Dr Amin Khuwaja performed the first free of charge open-heart surgery on a child.

The surgeons said that the baby was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. The baby is stable and recovering. The baby will be able to live a normal and healthy life no different from any other child his age.

Congratulating the NICVD’s team of surgeons, Executive Director, NICVD, Prof Nadeem Qamar, stated that this is a massive achievement of the NICVD to perform its first pediatric open-heart surgery at the NICVD Sukkur, completely free of cost because previously this major cardiac surgery was done either abroad or in big cities of the country. With the initiation of this cardiac surgery facility, we will be able to provide comprehensive cardiology care to pediatric patients. The NICVD aims at bridging the gap of heart healthcare across the Sindh province, ensuring that specialized care is provided at the doorstep of every needy patient.

He further added that the NICVD Sukkur, which is a 300-bed specialized facility, has performed more than 650 adult cardiac surgeries within a short period. Thousands of patients are also treated free of cost at the facility.

The NICVD Sukkur follows international standards in terms of healthcare and is providing all basic and major cardiac healthcare services, including cardiac emergency, consulting clinics, interventional cardiology, and critical care for the population of Sukkur and its peripheries.

-MN Report