Delhi man's Merchant Navy dream revived after robotic heart surgery
A routine screening found a large congenital hole in a 26-year-old Delhi man's heart, leading doctors to operate robotically. The case shows how hidden defects can derail careers and still be treated with faster-recovery surgery.
A 26-year-old man had to put his plans of joining the Merchant Navy on hold after a routine medical check-up found a large congenital hole in his heart. Doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital in Delhi said the condition was later repaired through robotic-assisted surgery.
The defect, a large atrial septal defect (ASD), was found during an echocardiogram after it was missed in an ECG during mandatory medical screening. Doctors said the condition was causing excess blood flow to the lungs and putting extra strain on the right side of his heart, after which he was declared medically unfit for service.
According to the hospital, the cardiac team repaired the defect using the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system. The procedure was carried out through small ports and a limited incision instead of splitting the breastbone, as is done in conventional open-heart surgery.
"The patient was aspiring to join the Merchant Navy but was unable to pursue the opportunity because of his ASD. Since the defect was large and not suitable for device closure, we chose a robotic-assisted surgical approach," said Dr Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, Senior Director, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Fortis Escorts Hospital.
Doctors said the defect was closed with a specialised patch. The surgery was completed without complications and the patient was taken off the ventilator on the same day. Hospital authorities said he recovered smoothly and was discharged in stable condition with normal heart function.
The hospital said the size and anatomy of the defect made it unsuitable for closure through a catheter-based device, which can be used in some ASD cases. The patient said he had never experienced major symptoms and had remained active, which made the diagnosis difficult even as it put his plans of working at sea at risk. Doctors said the minimally invasive approach was chosen keeping in mind his young age, otherwise fit health and the need for faster recovery. They added that the case showed how congenital heart defects can remain undetected even in young and active people until more detailed cardiac evaluation is done.