Doctors tuck child’s hanging heart back inside

An Indian baby born with his heart hanging precariously outside his chest has been operated by the doctors today who gently but firmly tucked it inside his body.

Cardiac surgeons of UN Mehta Hospital in Ahmedabad in Indian state of Gujrat performed the surgery early on the Friday morning in order to save the infant fighting for survival due to a rare disorder called Ectopia Cordis Totalis. Doctors reportedly said this congenital birth defect is as rare as one case in a million births in which the heart usually protrudes outside the chest through a split sternum. Sometimes the heart may be located in the abdominal cavity or neck. The infant, who is yet to be named, was admitted to the UN Mehta hospital two days back. Doctors expanded the cavity and put the heart back in its place. As the covering membrane had ruptured, the doctors had put him on high dose on antibiotics to bring down the infection. Hospital spokesman Dr Kashyap Sheth said a team of 12 doctors has performed the four-hour long surgery. Dr Sheth said: “Since the infection could be brought to minimum safety levels, it was decided to carry out the surgery. We created more space in his chest cavity and adjusted the heart in its right place. It was checked that his heart is beating well and is not pressured inside the cavity.” The condition of the baby is reported to be critical. Doctors said although the first step to place the heart back in its place was successful, but the baby will have to be monitored closely for four more days to check whether the body accepts the heart inside. Boy’s father Harish said:

"Next four days are critical. Please pray for him."