Doctors at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh successfully treated 2 children with rare congenital conditions-- Congenital neutropenia, a rare condition that increases the risk of repeated infections and Agammaglobulinemia, an inherited disorder in which a person has a very low level of protective immune system proteins called immunoglobulins. The team of doctors led by Dr Arvind Kumar, Director & HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh treated the patients with specific therapies and a well-curated approach. They recovered from fever and recurrent infections, gained weight and their appetite also improved.
A 4-year-old girl child was suffering from Congenital neutropenia, whose worldwide incidence is 2 to 3 cases per million population. Congenital neutropenia is a cluster of genetic disease and causes low levels of neutrophils. These conditions can lead to recurrent infection of skin, sinuses, stomatitis and infection of lung, bone and nervous system. She was presented to the hospital with fever alongwith multiple oral ulcerations. The patient had received treatment by multiple doctors, was admitted to hospitals and treated with antibiotics, but there was no improvement in her condition. Detailed analysis of her previous medical reports revealed that on multiple occasions her Neutrophil counts were 100 to 500 (Normal counts for her age >1500) which triggered a look for rare disease of congenital neutropenia. A genetic testing was conducted as it is an useful tool in the diagnosis and management of these group of inherited diseases. The child received a specific therapy -- Granulocyte colony stimulating factor-- a medication which increases the white blood cells by stimulating bone marrow, and clinical condition of the child showed dramatic improvement.
In another instance, Dr Kumar treated a 6-year-old male with a rare disease of Agammaglobulinemia (Burtons Disease). The child was suffering from high-grade fever, cough, purulent eye, ear discharge and loose stools. Close look at the previous reports showed child was admitted with different doctors with pneumonia, treated multiple times for ear infections, loose stool. He had infections with rare bacteria and viruses. Finally, the team of doctors treated the child with the help of Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to fight infections and the child gradually recovered. The therapy for this disease works by providing the body with antibodies that it cannot produce on its own, which thus prevent infection. The therapy is given every 3 weeks and it's to be used life-long. The worldwide incidence of this rare disease is 1:190,000 male births. From India, about 50-odd cases have been reported so far. 
Talking about the rare conditions, Dr Arvind Kumar, Director & HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, “In our daily life, we come across children, who fall sick with fever, mild cold, cough, sinus infection, ear infection, urinary tract infection and infections of the throat, recurrent diarrhea etc. A majority of these children need symptomatic treatment with paracetamol and sometimes antibiotics. However, rarely a child may have recurrent infections which are difficult to treat. These children would require frequent hospital admissions and the use of multiple antibiotics. They might also require either Hematopoietic Bone Marrow Transplant or treatment with specific agents. These patients have poor growth too and thus they require investigations to rule out rare immunity disorders known as primary immune deficiency disorder. In congenital neutropenia, if hemopoietic stem cell transplant is done, only then the treatment with injection will stop. However, in Agammaglobulinemia, the treatment is lifelong. They can live a better life free from infections and thrive well if timely diagnosis is done.”

In what can be termed as a medical miracle, Fortis Shalimar Bagh reported a significant medical achievement with the treatment of a 28-year-old pregnant woman suffering from spinal tuberculosis and paralysis for seven months. This was a very challenging and rare case, where the patient was pregnant and suffering from multiple co-morbidities – excruciating pain in her back for four months. Initially misdiagnosed as pregnancy-related back pain, her condition was later identified as spinal tuberculosis. In end of the 6th month of her pregnancy, the patient developed weakness in both her legs and within 20 days both her legs were completely paralysed, and she was bed-ridden. The patient was also unable to pass urine, necessitating a catheter.

A carefully curated treatment approach over several months by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors led by Dr. Sonal Gupta, Director & HOD Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh not only enabled successful recovery of the patient, but also helped the patient deliver a healthy baby.

Upon her admission to Fortis Shalimar Bagh, the patient underwent an MRI, revealing spinal tuberculosis with severe spinal cord compression. Urgent surgery was required to alleviate the pressure and stabilize her spine. The surgical procedure was complex due to her pregnancy, the doctors had to make her lie down in such a way that no pressure was exerted on the stomach/foetus. Unable to use traditional spinal fixation methods, as the doctors could not put screws to fix the unstable spine, due to pregnancy-related X-ray restrictions, mandatory for inserting screws (intervertebral titanium cage), surgeons opted for a temporary wire fixation. Additionally, the anesthesia was carefully managed to be safe for both mother and baby.

Despite her condition, the patient remained hopeful and bed-ridden until the delivery of a healthy baby via C-section. Post-delivery, after 15 days, an MRI revealed severe spinal cord swelling, unstable collapsed spine with spinal cord compression. To address this, another surgery was conducted through the side of her lung to remove tuberculosis tissue and stabilize the spine, involving the placement of a cage and screws to bridge the vertebral gap.

Three months after her surgery, the patient showed no leg movement, prompting a repeat MRI that revealed ongoing spinal cord swelling. Despite the challenging prognosis, she and her husband remained optimistic. They persisted with regular physiotherapy and continued tuberculosis treatment. This perseverance paid off, as her condition improved over time. 9 months into her TB treatment, she started walking, and after completing an 18-month course of treatment, she fully regained her mobility.

Giving details of the case, Dr. Sonal Gupta, Director & HOD Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh  said “This is rarest of rare case in medical history, where a patient suffering from paralysis could be cured even after 7 months of zero movement in legs. TB spine is quite common in India, however, TB Spine during pregnancy along with paralysis is a rare reported condition and posed a huge challenge during the surgery. In such complex cases, either the patient’s legs can be saved or the baby.”

Dr Sonal added “Survival of the baby was a challenge because of severe abdominal spasms due to spinal cord compression. Additionally, the surgery could not be completed in one go as there was radiation risk to the foetus. However, with a never give up attitude, supportive family and correct medical intervention, the patient is now free of tuberculosis and is leading a normal life. The prognosis for spinal tuberculosis is improved by early diagnosis and rapid intervention. If the woman was not treated on time, she would have been bed-ridden and wheel chair bound for rest of her life.”

Deepak Narang, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, “This is a case of medical excellence which allowed for a successful outcome in the patient’s condition where recovery is usually not possible. This case required a multi-disciplinary and well-curated approach, considering the critical condition of the patient. Despite all the odds, correct assessment and line of treatment by a multi-disclipanry team of doctors- Dr. Sonal Gupta, Director & HOD Neurosurgery, Dr. Sunita Varma, Director Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain, Principal Director & HOD - LAP GI, GI ONCO, Bariatric & MIS Surgery and Dr. Umesh Deshmukh, Director & HOD Anaesthesiology could not only save the patient, but also helped her deliver a healthy baby. Clinical expertise to handle such critical cases with best-in-class emergency care are the hallmarks of Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, and we continuously endeavour to provide highest level of care to save lives and get improved outcomes.”

In what may be termed as a miracle, Doctors at Fortis Shalimar Bagh gave a second life to a 42-year-old man who was brought to the hospital with no vital signs. The patient’s heart had stopped beating/pumping due to a severe heart attack. His family recounted that the man experienced an hour of chest pain that he initially dismissed as gastric trouble, a decision that almost cost him his life. Just minutes before reaching Fortis Shalimar Bagh, he stopped breathing. In a race against time, the team of doctors led by Dr Mashhad Haider Rizvi, Head Emergency and Dr Naresh Kumar Goyal, Director and HOD - Cardiology & Heart Failure, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh immediately attended to the patient and within next 20 minutes, the patient was revived. Timely diagnosis and quick medical intervention were the key factors in reviving the patient.
The patient was rushed to the emergency department of Fortis Shalimar Bagh in an unconscious and unresponsive state with no breathing, non-reactive pupils and no heart activity alongwith a flat-lined ECG. The team of doctors, in the emergency department immediately administered him CPR, intubation, and mechanical ventilation and after 20 minutes of aggressive resuscitative efforts, patient regained his vitals, post which he was rushed to the cath lab, where necessary investigations were done which revealed a critical blockage in the left anterior descending artery of the heart. 
Dr Mashhad Haider Rizvi, Head - Emergency, Fortis Shalimar Bagh said, “Emergency care in a hospital during a cardiac arrest is typically focused on restoring blood flow to the brain and other vital organs to prevent further damage. When the patient arrived at the emergency department, we decided to resuscitate him as his heart had stopped pumping 6-7 minutes back only. If he would not have reached the hospital on time, he would not have been able to survive.”
Giving details of the case, Dr Naresh Kumar Goyal, Director and HOD - Cardiology & Heart Failure said, “Looking at the condition of the patient, we decided to conduct an angioplasty amidst repeated electric shock and chest compressions to maintain blood flow to brain and other vital organs. After 4 days, the patient gradually recovered. A critical blockage in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a serious condition that can lead to  heart attack. The LAD is the largest coronary artery, and it supplies blood to the front of the left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber of the heart. A blockage in the LAD can reduce or stop the flow of blood to the heart muscle, which can damage or destroy heart tissue.”
Mr. Deepak Narang, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, “This case required a multi-disciplinary approach, considering the critical condition of the patient. Despite all the odds, the timely admission, correct assessment and line of treatment helped save the life of the patient. Clinical expertise and best-in-class emergency care are the hallmarks of Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, and we continuously endeavor to provide highest level of care to save lives and get improved outcomes.”

A proud moment for Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh! We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our first-ever liver transplant. Heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to our dedicated team of surgeons, nurses, and paramedics for their unwavering commitment and expertise in making this milestone possible. 
Here's to many more lives saved and transformed!

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In a rare and unusual medical emergency, a 30-year-old man was successfully treated at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh after accidentally ingesting a metallic spoon while drinking water. The team of doctors led by Dr Ramesh Garg, Senior Director & HOD & Dr. Ashutosh Ishan Yadav, Consultant, Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh conducted an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure in time of less than 30 minutes and the patient was discharged in a stable condition the very next day.
The Patient was referred to Fortis Shalimar Bagh’s Emergency department, after initial evaluation at multiple super-specialty hospitals in North Delhi. Upon presentation, the patient was vitally stable. Prompt diagnostic imaging, including an abdominal X-ray were conducted, which revealed a 8 cm long metallic spoon stuck at the upper part of his small intestine. An emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was immediately planned and performed under anesthesia. Using forceps, the surgical team very carefully extracted the spoon from the stomach. Following the procedure, the patient was observed for 24 hours. He remained vitally stable throughout the post-procedural monitoring and was discharged in a healthy condition without any complications.
Giving details of the case, Dr Ramesh Garg, Senior Director & HOD, Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, “This was an extremely rare and challenging case. Ingesting a metallic object like a spoon can lead to serious complications, especially when it gets stuck in the upper part of the small intestine. Timely diagnosis and intervention were critical. Our team performed an emergency upper GI endoscopy under anesthesia, and with utmost precision, we were able to retrieve the 8cm-long spoon without causing any internal injury. The patient was closely monitored post-procedure and was discharged in a stable condition. This case highlights the importance of quick decision-making and multidisciplinary coordination in handling complex gastrointestinal emergencies.”
Mr. Deepak Narang, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, “This case highlights Fortis Shalimar Bagh’s clinical expertise and the hospital’s ability to respond swiftly to rare and complex medical emergencies. The successful removal of an 8 cm metallic spoon through endoscopy in just 30 minutes is a testament to our advanced medical infrastructure, the skill of our specialists, and the strength of our emergency response protocols. We remain committed to delivering world-class care with precision, speed, and compassion.”