Best Child Heart Doctors Howrah | Pediatric Cardiologists in Howrah, West Bengal

1. Sinus Venosus ASD Stenting (or Closure)

• What it is: An ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) is a “hole” in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (atria). While many ASDs are in the center and can be closed with a device, a Sinus Venosus ASD is a less common type located near where the large veins (vena cava) enter the heart, and it’s often associated with abnormal drainage of the lung veins. Historically, this always required open-heart surgery. However, in select cases, it can now be addressed with a hybrid approach or, less commonly, fully via catheter intervention. For many, it’s still surgically repaired, but advanced interventional techniques are evolving.
• How it affects the heart: This hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart to leak into the right side, forcing the right side of the heart and the lungs to work harder. The abnormal lung vein connection (partial anomalous pulmonary venous return – PAPVR) also adds strain.
• Symptoms: Shortness of breath, tiring easily, frequent lung infections, or no symptoms for many years until significant strain develops.
• Diagnostic procedures: Detailed echocardiogram, cardiac MRI/CT for precise anatomical mapping, and sometimes cardiac catheterization for pressure measurements.
• Treatment: While often surgical, in very specific anatomical situations, a catheter-based approach involving stenting (placing a mesh tube to redirect blood flow) or specific device closure techniques can be considered to close the ASD and redirect the anomalous pulmonary veins, if feasible. This complex procedure is performed by highly experienced interventional cardiologists.The only centre to do the most youngest Sinus Venosus ASD stenting without a scar and with discharge after 2 days of procedure.

2. TranscatheterFontan Procedure

• What it is: The Fontan procedure is a complex series of open-heart surgeries performed in children born with a “single ventricle” heart defect (meaning they effectively have only one working pumping chamber instead of two). The Fontan redirects blue (oxygen-poor) blood directly from the lower body veins to the lungs, bypassing the heart’s single pumping chamber. TranscatheterFontan refers to highly advanced catheter-based interventions ,which has evolved in recent days as an alternative to open heart surgery. This is the only centre in eastern India to do successful transcatheterFontan Completion with excellent results.
• How it affects the heart: The Fontan circulation is unique and delicate. Over time, pathways can narrow, pressures can rise, or tiny leaks can develop, making the single ventricle work harder and affecting overall circulation.
• Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, protein loss into the gut (protein-losing enteropathy), or liver complications.
• Diagnostic procedures: Regular echocardiograms, cardiac MRI/CT, and crucial cardiac catheterizations to precisely measure pressures and identify areas of narrowing or leakage within the Fontan circuit.
• Treatment: When complications arise, transcatheter interventions are often the first-line treatment to improve Fontan circulation:
  • Stenting: Placing stents in narrowed pathways (e.g., in the Fontan conduit or pulmonary arteries) to improve blood flow to the lungs.
  • Coil Embolization: Closing small, unwanted connections or leaks within the Fontan circuit.
  • Fenestration Closure: If a controlled hole (fenestration) was created during the Fontan surgery to relieve pressure, it might be closed later via catheterization if it’s no longer needed.

3. Rvot stenting

Special stenting in RVOT in very sick babies to relieve their blueness and to make them suitable for future corrective surgery.

4. Other Common Special Interventions We Perform:

While the above are examples of very complex interventions, our team also routinely performs many other catheter-based procedures:

• Balloon Angioplasty/Stenting:
  • What it is: Using a balloon-tipped catheter to open up narrowed blood vessels (like the aorta in coarctation of the aorta) or heart valves (like in pulmonary valve stenosis). A stent (a small mesh tube) may then be placed to keep the vessel open.
  • How it helps: Improves blood flow through narrowed areas, reducing strain on the heart.
• Device Closure of ASD/VSD/PDA/AP window:
  • What it is: Using a catheter to deliver a small, umbrella-like device to close holes in the heart (like common ASDs or some VSDs) or to close an open blood vessel (like a PDA,APW).
  • How it helps: Prevents abnormal blood flow, reducing extra workload on the heart and lungs.

• Electrophysiology Studies and Ablations:
  • What it is: For children with persistent irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), a special catheter is used to map the heart’s electrical activity and then deliver targeted energy (radiofrequency or cryoablation) to correct the abnormal electrical pathway causing the arrhythmia.
  • How it helps: Cures or significantly controls problematic heart rhythms.

• Transcatheter Valve Replacements:
  An alternative to valve surgery, especially in growing children where repeated surgeries may be needed. Child heart doctors are the only group of doctors who performed successful transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation with excellent outcome.