RML Hospital Sets Global Milestone with Rare Heart Surgery on Woman with Mirrored Organs
Doctors at Delhi’s RML Hospital successfully performed a minimally invasive heart surgery on a 31-year-old woman with Situs Inversus and a complex heart defect, marking a world first achievement
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in Delhi successfully conducted a highly complex heart surgery on a woman whose internal organs are mirror images of the usual arrangement. This rare condition, known as Situs Inversus, places her heart on the right side of the chest instead of the left.
The patient, a 31-year-old woman from Rajasthan, also had a partial atrioventricular canal defect, which caused oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, putting her life at risk. Traditionally, such cases require open-heart surgery involving a full sternotomy, which is highly invasive and leaves large scars.
However, the RML surgical team, led by Dr. Narendra Singh Jhajhria of the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department, completed the operation through a small 4-centimeter incision using minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques. This marks the first time in the world that a patient with such a rare combination of conditions has undergone heart surgery through such a tiny cosmetic incision.
During the procedure, the patient was placed on a heart-lung machine to maintain blood circulation. The surgical team used a section of the patient’s own pericardium to close the heart defect, ensuring a safe and effective repair. The entire surgery was provided free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, making this life-saving treatment accessible to a patient in need.
The operation took place on March 30, and the patient’s recovery was remarkably swift. By April 3, she was discharged in full health. The success of this surgery has drawn widespread acclaim, highlighting both the skill of Indian medical professionals and the advanced technology available in public hospitals.
This achievement not only sets a new benchmark for cardiac surgery globally but also demonstrates how innovative techniques can reduce patient trauma, shorten recovery times, and expand access to complex medical care.
