M.J. Arunkumar, chairman and Managing Director, Hannah Joseph Hospital, addressing the media in Madurai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY

Doctors at Hannah Joseph Hospital in Madurai have successfully performed a life-saving neuroendovascular procedure on a nine-month-old baby boy, diagnosed with a complex brain aneurysmal rupture, using balloon-assisted coils in the brain.

Addressing media persons on Thursday, the hospitals’ chairman and Managing Director, M. J. Arunkumar, said the infant weighing 7.5 kg was brought to the hospital after the child experienced multiple episodes of uncontrolled seizures, decline in consciousness lapsing into coma with no visible limb movements.

The infant was brought on ventilator support with unstable blood pressure and pulse. The baby was resuscitated on arrival and made hemodynamically stable at the Neuro Emergency Department. A CT scan of the brain showed a diffuse bleed.

After stabilising the child, Brain Angiography (Digital Subtraction Angiography-DSA) under general anaesthesia was planned. The angiography revealed a large, saccular aneurysm which burst and bled in the brain. This was located in the anterior communicating artery (ACOM) alongside multiple smaller aneurysms.

After discussions, it was decided to go ahead with endovascular treatment using balloon-assisted coils by the team of neuro-radiologist Vinayagamani, neuro-anaesthesiologist N. Arunkumar along with Cath Lab support staff, he said.

Dr. Vinayagamani said that considering the infant’s age and complexity of the condition, the team made a critical decision to treat the aneurysm using an advanced neuroendovascular technique instead of opening the skull and micro-surgically clip the aneurysm.

The post-procedure scans confirmed no further bleeding or complications. The child was continued on ventilatory support in Neuro Intensive Care for a few days and was slowly taken off the ventilator once the child started moving the limbs and became conscious. The child made a remarkable recovery and was discharged in a stable condition with no neurological deficits. The child continues to remain normal at home, he said.