1st Paediatric open heart surgery performed at NICVD Sukkur

KARACHI:A Paediatric Cardiothoracic surgery team of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Sukkur performed a successful open heart surgery procedure on a five-year old child.

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

The Surgeons said that the baby from Sukkur who was diagnosed to have atrial septal defect, is stable and recovering. They said when the patient’s parents were told that their child would be operated upon near to his abode, they were overwhelmed with joy. They said people of Sukkur and adjoining areas are jubilant over the successful open heart surgery on the baby in their area. They said that the baby will be able to live a normal, healthy life no different from any other child his age.

Congratulating NICVD’s surgeons team, Executive Director of NICVD Prof Nadeem Qamar stated that this is a huge achievement of institution to perform first Paeds open heart surgery at NICVD Sukkur100% free, because this major cardiac surgery used to be done only in big cities of the country or abroad.

With initiation of this cardiac surgery facilities, we will be able to provide comprehensive cardiology care to paeds patients. NICVD aims at bridging the gap of heart healthcare across Sindh Province and ensuring that we provide specialized care at the doorstep of every needy patient.

He further added that NICVD Sukkur, which is a 300-bed specialized facility, has performed more than 650 adult cardiac surgeries so far within a short span of time while thousands of patients are being also treated free of cost.

NICVD Sukkur follows international standard 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.