Dip in mercury disrupts surgery for ailing infants

With minimum temperature dropping to 12 degrees Celsius this week, newborn infants requiring surgery have been worst hit. Paediatric cardio-surgeon and the paediatric surgeon in the city have been postponing some five to seven surgeries every day in the past two weeks.

The main reason being stated by the doctors for the postponement is the prevalence of winter ailments, which the infants are prone to. “For a three-month and five-month old baby, winter is a tough time. Babies with hole in their heart cannot tolerate it due to which we are postponing the cases of surgery,” said Dr Swati Gerkar, paediatric cardiologist, Fortis Hospital.

Doctors said babies with cough and cold cannot be put in the bypass machine because it would exacerbate pneumonia. Dr Gerkar also added that the postoperative care becomes difficult on a newly operated baby as contracting winter ailments could deteriorate their health.

Dr Bhupendra Avasthi, paediatrician from Surya Health care, Santa Cruz, also said that the cases, which are in need of urgent surgery, were getting difficult. “The cases in which operation could not be averted were difficult as we had to take care of the baby’s winter ailments also which had weakened them,” said Dr Avasthi.

Pointing out to a case, Dr Avasthi said: “An infant had developed pneumonia which had ruined his condition. We had to be very cautious while operating him as his lungs were affected which might have disturbed his heart,” he added.

Cases like hermeneutic hernia, which involve respiratory issues and can be operated by the surgeon after a few weeks of birth, are also being put on hold.

The temperature in the city in next few weeks will remain low fluctuating between 13 to 15 degrees Celsius. Rains are expected in the city between Tuesday and Thursday and could can lead to further fall in temperature.

“Warm the baby’s bed with hot water bag or heating pad, always keep them fully covered with socks, mittens, caps and sweaters, put them in blankets always, keep them moisturised, bath them in warm water and keep on giving them hot water,” said Dr Avasthi, listing out safety tips.