Medica Superspecialty Hospital, the leading private hospital chain in Eastern India, performed a pioneering procedure to address a congenital Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) in saving the life of Aloka Mandal, a 47-year-old woman from Berhampur, Murshidabad, West Bengal. She was suffering from a condition marked by a 40 millimeter hole with floppy margin in the upper chambers of her heart. Doctors implanted a customized Occluder device with a diameter of 48 millimeters, a rarity in such cases worldwide. The entire procedure was conducted under the Swasthya Sathi scheme of Government of West Bengal. The adept team comprised of Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi, Head – Paediatric Cardiology & Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Department of Paediatric & Congenital Heart Disease, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, and his team of experts, which included Dr. Soumya Kanti Mohapatra, Associate Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Dr. Somnath Dey, Cardiac Anesthetist, Medica Superspecialty Hospital & Mr. Arnab De, Chief Cath Technician, Medica Superspecialty Hospital.

Aloka Mandal, hailing from Murshidabad district, was battling a heart condition known as Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), despite being in her late forties. She experienced symptoms such as fatigue and heart palpitations, prompting her family to seek medical attention. Upon diagnosis at a local hospital, it was revealed that she had a substantial hole in her heart’s upper chambers, leading to complications such as heart chamber enlargement and mild elevation in lung pressure.

Undeterred by the diagnosis, the family turned to the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Department at Medica Superspecialty Hospital for advanced treatment options. She underwent Transesophageal Echocardiogram at Medica, and the medical team confirmed a large hole in the heart, 40 millimeters in size, with floppy edges. This birth defect had been there for a long time and caused serious problems for her heart, making some parts bigger and slightly increasing pressure in her lungs. The team also presented viable treatment alternatives and decided to operate her on December 14th, 2023.

Enumerating the details about this difficult case, Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi, explained, “While ASD typically is treated by the age of four, Aloka Mandal’s case required intervention in late fifth decade. Traditional treatment options necessitated open-heart surgery; however, advancements in medical science enabled minimally invasive procedures. Despite this progress, a unique challenge arose: the standard Occluder devices, with their 40–42-millimeter diameter, fell short of her need. Her ASD demanded a bespoke solution – a 48-millimeter device, available only from a select few manufacturers, requiring a pre-order. Our team thoroughly explained every treatment possibility, ensuring our patient and her family had the knowledge to make a well-informed choice. Moreover, we meticulously readied ourselves for any potential emergencies that might arise during the procedure.”

With unwavering determination, Aloka underwent the procedure. During cardiac catheterization, her lung pressure was found to be within acceptable limits, and her coronary arteries showed normalcy, and the doctors successfully implanted the specialized occluder device in her heart in their first attempt. Remarkably, she experienced rapid post operative recovery and was discharged within 48 hours of admission.

Dr. Singhi added, “Atrial Septal Defect constitutes 10% of congenital cardiac anomalies. In Aloka’s case it may have been missed out. This disease typically surfaces when one is mid -thirties to mid -forties. “

Aloka Mandal expressed, “Upon receiving the diagnosis of ASD, both my family and I were taken aback and scared too. I was worried about my family. Dr. Singhi and other doctors sat with me and explained every detail in a way that I would easily understand and that helped me to win over my fear and anxiety. I could not believe that I could go home so fast. My family and I will forever remain indebted to the entire medical team at Medica for granting me a second chance at life.”

Mr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Jt. Managing Director, Medica Group of Hospitals, shared, “Medica has consistently championed cutting-edge technology to overcome complex medical challenges, ensuring patients receive state-of-the-art care without the need to seek treatment outside of West Bengal. The Swasthya Sathi scheme’s ability to execute intricate operations, ensuring accessible healthcare, is evidence of its efficacy as a public health scheme with far reaching socio-economic implications. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to Dr. Anil Kumar Singhi and the team for their steadfast commitment in administering innovative treatment to congenital cardiac ailment of our patient. We wish Aloka Mandal and her family a healthy life ahead.”