Aligarh: In a remarkable medical achievement, the Cardiothoracic Surgery team of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), performed a rare and high-risk heart surgery on a newborn from Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir, reaffirming the institution’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced cardiac care.
Tahir, the infant’s father, had been deeply concerned about his child’s deteriorating health – marked by breathing difficulty, failure to gain weight, and episodes of turning blue during crying or feeding. Multiple consultations across Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi confirmed a rare congenital heart defect involving a hole in the heart, narrowing of major blood vessels, and dangerously high pulmonary artery pressure. However, either prohibitive costs or long waiting lists in major government hospitals made surgery inaccessible – until the family reached JNMC.
Paediatric cardiologists Dr. Shaad Abqari and Dr. Moaz Kidwai quickly diagnosed the condition and performed a cath lab evaluation to assess surgical feasibility. Against conventional odds, the Cardiothoracic Surgery team – comprising Prof. (Dr.) Mohd Azam Haseen, Dr. Syed Shamayal Rabbani, and Dr. Mohammad Aamir – took on the challenge.
The surgery involved stopping the heart and lungs for 25 minutes and operating under partial circulatory arrest, with vital heart-lung functions managed by Clinical Perfusionists Dr. Sabir Ali Khan and Mr. Irshad Qureshi. Anaesthesia was provided by Dr. Dipti Channa and Ms. Nida, with surgical assistance from Aslam, Salman, Kamran, and Ayesha. Post-operative care was led by nursing supervisors Suhail-ur Rahman and Amir Khan.
Prof. Mohd Azam Haseen, Chairperson of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, hailed the procedure as a proud moment for AMU, noting that such surgeries are performed in only a handful of government centres in India. Dr Shamayal, the chief operating surgeon, explained that the complex procedure was enabled by advanced intraoperative brain oxygen monitoring through a NIRS machine, generously donated by the Link Lock Group.
The surgery, conducted entirely free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, stands as a testament to JNMC’s commitment to accessible, world-class healthcare. Prof. Habib Raza, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Principal & CMS of JNMC, along with Prof. Amjad Ali Rizwi, Medical Superintendent, lauded the team, highlighting that such complex surgeries – once exclusive to premier centres like AIIMS Delhi – are now regularly performed at AMU.
Pof. Habib Raza, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Principal and CMS J.N. Medical College congratulated the team of doctors and paramedical staff involved in care of patient. Prof Amjad Ali Rizvi Medical Superintendent JN Medical College AMU Aligarh said earlier these kinds of surgeries were being done only at AIIMS New Delhi but such complex surgeries are regularly being done at JN Medical College, AMU, Aligarh
Prof. Naima Khatoon, Vice-Chancellor of AMU, commended the medical team’s dedication, emphasising that the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has performed over 3,000 cardiac surgeries in recent years, saving countless lives and cementing JNMC’s role as a leader in medical excellence.
