Comprehensive Paediatric Cardiac Care at Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai
Heart disease in children is not that uncommon. One in 100 new-borns is born with a heart defect. Not all are serious. But when serious, heart defects can be life threatening and often it is lifesaving to take treatment for them at the right time and place.
The oldest centre in Maharashtra, our centre boasts of a well-rounded team supplemented by world class infrastructure and multi-disciplinary round the clock support. We have conducted over 20 transplants and conduct over 500 surgeries every year.
The Fortis team that works for detecting and treating heart defects in children is specially trained. The physicians and surgeons have a background in paediatrics, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, anaesthesia, or intensive care. The supporting staff include specialised nurses, respiratory specialists, and physiotherapists.
Technology:
The paediatric cardiac team is complemented by an environment which gives it complete access to round the clock available cutting-edge infrastructure.
The modern operation suites at Fortis hospital Mulund have specially designed laminar airflow systems that allow surgery in a near-bacteria free environment. In addition, the state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, lights, large operation-suite space, heart-lung machines, all serve to enable surgery even among preterm babies with good results. An excellent blood bank service with availability of fractionated blood components provides yet another key advantage.
The spacious dedicated 12 bedded paediatric cardiac ICU is also supported by laminar air flow systems and HEPA filters to ensure near-zero bacteria air-conditioning. The unit also has facilities for management of pulmonary hypertension through Nitric Oxide ventilation and LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) for managing a failing heart. Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation for reversible respiratory failure is also available. Strict aseptic protocols and 1:1 nursing ensures optimal care and very low infection rates.
The best of the paediatric cardiac centres across the world are part of multi disciplinary super speciality hospitals, like our centre is. This enables rapid access of an array of services to the patient who may have a multitude of issues cropping up during his or her care. These may include expert consultant need, special imaging (CT or 3T MRI), rare blood tests, emergency need of blood products or a high cost special heart supporting high end machinery that is a viable option for a super speciality hospital only.
Very few centres are able to help at the next level of care like we do….. When all treatment options have been tried and failed… and a heart transplant is the only way forward. The Fortis heart transplant team is one of the most experienced in India.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The parameters for measuring success of a paediatric cardiac centre can be judged by not only by the number of cases performed but also the complexity and the short- and long-term results. Our centre has shown consistently rising numbers with a high complexity score and success rates at par with the best centres across the world. It is part of a Boston based international surgical result surveillance program. Another trait of a successful paediatric cardiac centre is providing training through fellowship programs, organising CMEs, participating as faculty at meetings across the country and having periodic scientific publications to their credit. Our centre has had success in all of these.
Use of cutting edge technology and innovative solutions for complex heart defects is something that occurs on a regular basis here. One recent instance was that of a 3year old boy from Nigeria with a heart defect called double outlet right ventricle. The team used a virtual 3D heart model to understand the complete anatomy and plan the complete repair. In another instance, a one and half year old girl from Iraq with a major heart defect got a new life with the best surgical option given to her by the team. The second best option would have been the most preferred one at most centres around the world. The team pushed themselves and utilized all available resources to meticulously plan and carry out the best option.
The future belongs to those who dare. This paediatric cardiac care Team dares with passion and compassion with a single aim of making sick little hearts better.
The department also runs speciality clinics for focused paediatric cardiac issues like:
Heart Failure Clinic every Wednesday
Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic every Monday
Obesity and Hypertension Clinic every Saturday
Please reach us on 022 4925 4488 (9am – 5pm) for appointments or any assistance.
