7-Year-Old Iraqi Boy Undergoes Rare Heart Procedure in Delhi for Life-Threatening 200 BPM Condition

The average heart rate typically ranges from 75 to 118 beats per minute. (Representational)

New Delhi:

A seven-year-old boy from Iraq, suffering from a dangerous heart condition causing abnormally rapid heart rhythm, recently underwent a critical life-saving procedure in Delhi. The surgery required extreme precision due to his young age and low body weight.

The medical team at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI) performed the specialized cardiac procedure known as electrophysiology study and radiofrequency ablation on the child last month.

According to hospital officials, the young patient had been diagnosed with incessant tachycardia - a persistent, accelerated heart rhythm that doesn't normalize naturally and can potentially lead to severe complications including weakening of heart muscles and eventual heart failure.

The boy was born with an abnormal electrical circuit in his heart, causing this dangerous condition.

"When examined at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, the patient's heart was beating at an alarming rate between 170-200 beats per minute," the hospital reported in their statement.

For perspective, normal heart rate in children typically ranges between 75 and 118 beats per minute.

Weighing only 26 kilograms, the child had endured this condition for years without proper medical intervention in his home country. The high risks associated with his age and weight had prevented local doctors from performing the necessary procedure.

Iraqi medical professionals had reportedly kept the child on medications that carried potential toxicity. These medications not only severely limited his quality of life but also posed risks of serious side effects.

After careful consideration, the family made the decision to bring him to India for treatment.

The medical team determined that an electrophysiology study (a diagnostic test evaluating the heart's electrical system) combined with radiofrequency ablation (a procedure using heat generated from alternating current to eliminate dysfunctional heart tissue causing arrhythmias) was necessary, despite being rarely attempted in children under 30 kilograms due to significant risks.

Extreme caution was exercised throughout the procedure to protect the child's small heart structures and delicate blood vessels.

After two hours of meticulous work by the medical team, the boy's abnormal electrical pathway was successfully treated, restoring his heart to a normal rhythm.

Dr. Aparna Jaswal, Director of the Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology at FEHI, explained: "This case presented extraordinary challenges due to its complexity and rarity. Usually, such procedures are postponed until children reach a weight of at least 30 kilograms. However, this patient's deteriorating condition risked heart failure if treatment had been delayed any further."

She further noted, "Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), the most common form of arrhythmia in children, affects approximately one in 1,000 children globally. Following the procedure, the child has recovered well and resumed normal activities after years of suffering. Pediatric ablations in such young, underweight patients are uncommon due to the risks of damaging heart structures and blood vessels."

Dr. Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director at FEHI Okhla, highlighted that the specialized Pediatric Electrophysiology Program makes their hospital one of the few centers in India capable of providing curative solutions to high-risk patients, including those with small body size. The facility successfully treats patients from across India and internationally who lack access to such advanced cardiac care in their home countries.