Kolkata, Apr 22: A 17-year-old with Down’s syndrome teenager from Nandigram with a complex congenital heart defect, who had previously been denied surgery across multiple leading hospitals due to extremely high procedural risk has been successfully operated by the expert team led by Dr Soumya Kanti Dutta, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital Dhakuria.
Master Soubhagya Mondal has speech defects and severe developmental challenges, was diagnosed at the age of 4 years with a ventricular septal defect (VSD)—a hole in the heart. Over the years, the child suffered from recurrent chest infections, seizures, poor growth, and repeated hospitalizations, while conventional open-heart surgery was ruled out due to high anaesthesia risk.
Considering the complexity of the case, as the defect was located very close to the aorta and major heart valves the team at Manipal Hospital decided to opt for minimally invasive percutaneous procedure, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery.
“Given the critical location of the defect and the patient’s fragile condition, this was an extremely high-risk intervention. We proceeded with minimal anesthesia and advanced imaging guidance to ensure precision,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Dutta, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist.
A specialized 12×14 mm multifunctional occluder device (MFO)—one of the largest of its kind and rarely used in India—was successfully implanted through a catheter-based approach via the femoral artery and vein. The procedure involved navigating critical cardiac structures, including the aorta, using advanced techniques such as snaring for safe device placement.
“The implanted device is permanent and does not require replacement. With regular follow-ups through echocardiography, the teenager is expected to lead a significantly improved quality of life. However, if left untreated, the condition could have led to heart failure, stroke, and worsening neurological complications. Timely intervention has been life-saving,” added Dr Dutta.”
