World's smallest baby successfully undergoes heart surgery at Geetanjali Hospital, Rajasthan

New Delhi: In yet another rare feat, Indian doctors have successfully performed a complex heart surgery on a neonate born weighing just 470 grams.

As per reports, the baby boy born prematurely after about 28 weeks (5.5 months) - believed the be the world's tiniest baby - underwent a patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, corrective operation 15 days after his birth. Patent ductus arteriosus is a heart defect caused by problems in the heart's development.

The challenging surgery, whic lasted for half an hour was conducted by a team of experts from Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital and Jeevanta Hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

It is said that the couple, both residents of Udaipur, conceived after many years of marriage through IVF procedur. The baby, who was delivered by lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) procedure, developed breathing difficulties immediate after his birth and was placed under the expert care.

Doctors found the the infant suffered from a condition in which the two major blood vessels of heart- aorta and pulmonary artery were connected. The connection between the two arteries is present till the fetus is inside a mother’s womb.

However, it automatically disconnects after the birth. If it doesn’t happen then is being treated with medicines. But since the baby didn’t respond to medicines, heart surgery was the last option available in this case.

While any surgery on a premature infant is risky, the procedure was so challenging for the team as the baby was so tiny and the body parts are extremely premature.

“There were many risks involved like respiratory distress syndrome, brain/lungs internal bleeding, feeding intolerance, developmental problems, etc., and above all survival rate upto 55% only,” said

Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital’s cardio vascular & thoracic surgeon Dr Sanjay Gandhi, who had earlier performed such operation on a neonate weighing 700 grams at Jaipur’s Cocoon Hospital last year.

Doctors said the baby boy, which his family described him as a 'miracle', is doing well and gaining weight. He now weighs about 600 grams.

“It is no less than a miracle. He is so brave that he has survived so many odds with such low weight being a pre-term neonate. Our prayers are answered,” said the parents with tearful eyes.

Doctors said the baby boy, which his family described him as a 'miracle', is doing well and gaining weight. He now weighs about 600 grams.

Baby Jain became the lightest and youngest Indian to have undergone a successful heart surgery in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). He is also the he lightest in the world to undergo a PDA corrective operation.