40-Minute-Old Preterm Newborn Undergoes Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedure at Fortis Escorts, Okhla

In a remarkable demonstration of clinical expertise and teamwork, the Paediatric Cardiology Team at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, treated a critically ill premature newborn delivered at 31 weeks. An earlier foetal ultrasound at a city-based hospital had revealed that the unborn child had a critically narrowed heart valve. After birth, the baby was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis, severely reduced heart function and fluid accumulation around the heart, a condition where every minute is crucial.

Within 15 minutes of birth, the team stabilized and intubated the baby, enabling urgent intervention. The Paediatric Cardiology Team, led by Dr Neeraj Awasthy, Director - Paediatric Cardiology, performed a balloon aortic valvotomy, a minimally invasive procedure to open the severely narrowed valve and restore blood flow. Completed within 40 minutes of birth, the procedure stabilised the newborn’s circulation. Specialised care in the neonatal nursery thereafter helped the baby steadily improve. The patient was eventually discharged on January 19, 2026.