The Cradle doctors achieve new milestone

Bangalore-based pregnancy and child care specialty hospital The Cradle has achieved a new milestone by performing a rare laparoscopic surgery on a new born infant who was suffering from Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH).

When Jasna was five months pregnant, her baby was diagnosed with CDH in London, but was told the delivery would be normal - but the baby's survival may be 50%. She flew from London to Bangalore and chose to consult at The Cradle having heard of the hospital's track record in dealing with such complications. Recently, the hospital performed the rare surgery when the baby was two and half DAYS old.

The team at The Cradle performed the laparoscopic surgery on the baby of Jasna and Ramakrishnan, possibly being done for the first time in Karnataka, and probably in South India as well, on an infant so young. The baby made an unremarkable recovery - thanks to the confidence the parents had on Cradle doctors (which does matter) and also the competence of Cradle team 01 Neonatologists - Dr Kishore & Dr Nandini. The baby was discharged home on 10th day - a record b~ itself! Usually these sort of babies land up staying in the hospital for over 3 to 4 weeks - since this baby was operated on by laparoscopic method - the recovery was faster said the treating Paed Surgeon Dr S. Ramesh.

According to Dr Kishore Kumar, Leading Consultant Neonatologist of The Cradle Bangalore, , diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that helps a person breathe.

The opening allows part of the organs from the belly (stomach spleen, liver, and intestines) to go up into the chest cavity near the lungs. CDH is seen in 1 out ( every 2,200 to 5,000 live births. Most affect the left side. Having a parent or sibling with the condition slightly increases your risk. It leads to severe breathing problems and surgery to repair  the opening is the only form of treatment. The survival in most centres around the world is said t be about 50% on an average.

In India, the incidence of CDH averages about 1 in 2000 to 4000 live births. At The Cradle, so far, babies with CDH have been treated and 4 have survived and are doing well