The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has earned another feather in its cap, as the Pediatric Cardiology team led by Col Harmeet Singh Arora, VSM, at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) successfully performed a high risk transcatheter (non surgical) life saving cardiac procedure in an eight year old civilian boy who is a resident of Baramullah, Jammu & Kashmir. The boy had a critical narrowing of Aorta (Blood channel supplying 'pure' blood to all the parts of the body) resulting in compromised blood supply to few vital organs of the body as well as reduced function of heart. This challenging complex procedure was done through a small 'nick' in the groin and involved implantation of a large stent to keep the narrowed blood channel opened. The procedure carried an extremely high risk of life threatening complication on the operating table itself. However, it went off uneventfully and the child has been discharged in just three days post procedure without even a scar on the body. The anaesthesia provided by Lt Col G.S. Ghotra, Cardiac Anaesthetist, AH(R&R) ensured smooth conduct of this procedure.

The boy was brought to this centre by Indian Army Dagger Division, J&K for treatment under ongoing OPERATION SADBHAVNA in J & K. The venture has been possible due to able guidance and aegis of Lt General Daljit Singh, AVSM,VSM,PHS, DGAFMS who is also the senior most serving pediatrician of the AFMS, Lt General Arindam Chatterjee, AVSM, VSM, DGMS (Army), Lt General Ajith Nilakantan, PVSM, Commandant, AH (R&R) and Col Sandeep Dhingra, Head of Department (Pediatrics), AH(R&R). It was a collaborative effort of AH (R&R),New Delhi, Chinaar Corps/Dagger Division, J&K and Indrani Balan foundation, Pune. The boy is a student of Dagger Parivar School. The family of this boy is financially challenged and was otherwise incapable of affording his treatment. With this treatment done at AH (R&R) he will lead an absolutely normal life in future. The expertise of performing such a complex procedure is available only at few centers in the country, including AH (R&R).