MGM Healthcare performs complex heart valve surgery on 14-year-old girl

Surgeons at MGM Healthcare have performed a mitral valve replacement on a 14-year-old girl with mesocardia, a rare congenital condition in which the heart is positioned at the centre of the chest, and Morquio syndrome, a rare inherited metabolic disorder. The patient had severe mitral regurgitation with left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, causing severe breathlessness. The hospital said the unusual position of the heart made access to the mitral valve difficult, while Morquio syndrome, which is associated with skeletal abnormalities and cervical spine instability, increased the complexity of anaesthesia and surgery. The surgery was performed by R.K.R. Noveen Davidson, senior consultant, paediatric cardiac, and heart and lung transplant surgeon. The diseased mitral valve was replaced with a 25-mm mechanical valve, and the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was relieved, the hospital said. Dr. Davidson said the combination of mesocardia and Morquio syndrome is rare. He added that the patient was recovering well and was expected to take three to six months for complete recovery. Suresh Rao K.G., co-director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, said post-operative management was challenging because of upper airway abnormalities, cervical spine instability and compromised cardiorespiratory function associated with Morquio syndrome. He added that the child also had a restrictive lung defect and required close monitoring after surgery.