Paediatric Cardiac Surgery in Ahmedabad
Giving Children the Strongest Start
A diagnosis of congenital heart disease in a child is one of the most frightening things a family can face. The language is unfamiliar, the stakes feel impossibly high, and the path forward is rarely straightforward. At EPIC Multispecialty Hospital, Ahmedabad, our paediatric cardiac surgery team has walked this path with hundreds of families – providing expert surgical care for congenital heart defects from the newborn period through adolescence, with compassion at every step.
India has one of the highest burdens of congenital heart disease in the world. An estimated 180,000 to 200,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects in India each year – the majority requiring some form of intervention. Access to quality paediatric cardiac surgical care remains limited. EPIC Multispecialty Hospital is committed to closing that gap for families across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Rajkot, and across Gujarat.
Understanding Congenital Heart Disease
What Is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to structural abnormalities of the heart or great vessels that are present at birth. These range from simple defects – such as a small hole between the chambers – to complex malformations that affect how blood flows through the heart and lungs entirely. Some CHD is detected on a foetal echocardiogram before birth; others present in the newborn period with cyanosis (blue discolouration), breathlessness, or poor feeding; and some are not detected until childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood.
Common Congenital Heart Defects Treated at EPIC Hospital
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) – a hole between the lower chambers; the most common congenital heart defect
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) – a hole between the upper chambers
- Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) – a combination of four defects causing reduced oxygen in the blood (cyanosis)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) – a foetal blood vessel that fails to close after birth
- Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) – the aorta and pulmonary artery are switched, requiring surgery in the first weeks of life
- Coarctation of the Aorta – a narrowing of the main artery leaving the heart
- Pulmonary Stenosis and Aortic Stenosis in children
- Complex single-ventricle heart disease requiring staged palliative surgery
Surgical Approaches in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery
Open-Heart Surgery in Infants and Children
The majority of significant congenital heart defects require open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. In very small infants and neonates, surgery may be performed with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) – a carefully managed technique that temporarily pauses the circulation, allowing the surgeon to operate in a bloodless, still field. Modern perfusion technology and anaesthetic techniques have made this approach remarkably safe in experienced hands.
Catheter-Based Corrections – No Open Surgery Needed
For several common defects, correction can now be achieved without opening the chest. Device closure of secundum ASD, transcatheter PDA closure, and balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty are all performed in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory using catheters and imaging guidance. These procedures mean a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and no surgical scar.
Staged Surgery for Complex Defects
Some of the most challenging congenital conditions – particularly those involving a single functional ventricle – require a series of operations performed in stages as the child grows, culminating in a Fontan circulation. EPIC Hospital’s paediatric cardiac team plans and manages each stage of this long-term surgical journey with the family, providing continuity of expert care throughout childhood.
Post-Operative Care for Children at EPIC Hospital
Children recovering from cardiac surgery require specialised paediatric cardiac intensive care – age-appropriate ventilation strategies, precise fluid management, nutritional support, and haemodynamic monitoring calibrated for small patients. EPIC Hospital’s ICU team and nursing staff are experienced in paediatric post-cardiac surgery care, and our approach to family communication ensures parents are supported and informed at every stage of their child’s recovery.
Know Your Signs
Chest Pain / Discomfort
Heart Palpitations
Fainting (Syncope)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Shortness of Breath
Dizziness or Lightheadedness
Changes in Exercise Tolerance
Swelling (Edema)
Emergency Services
Our dedicated emergency team is available 24/7 to provide immediate medical care and support in critical situations.
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Multidisciplinary Team of Experts
Highly Experienced Cardiac Surgeon Team with 30 + years of experience
Pioneer in Coronary Artery Bypass (CABG) in Gujarat
43 bedded Post Surgical ICU
Dedicated 5 OTs to Cardiac Surgeries
Maquet Version 4.1 Machine for ECMO
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DR. ANIL JAIN
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Talks By Our Expert Cardiac Doctors
Patient Journey at EPIC: Bypass Surgery
Patient Testimonial:- Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
CABG Surgery – Dr. Anoop Gupta and Dr. Anil Jain & Team
Bypass surgery – Patient Testimonial by Dr. Anil Jain
Bypass and Valve Replacement Surgery – Dr. Anil Jain
Patient Testimonial – Dr. Anil Jain
Talks By Our Expert Cardiac Doctors
Patient Testimonial – Dr. Anil Jain
Bypass and Valve Replacement Surgery – Dr. Anil Jain
Bypass surgery – Patient Testimonial by Dr. Anil Jain
CABG Surgery – Dr. Anoop Gupta and Dr. Anil Jain & Team
Patient Testimonial:- Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
Patient Journey at EPIC: Bypass Surgery
Paediatric Cardiac Surgery in Ahmedabad - Frequently Asked Questions
How is congenital heart disease diagnosed in children?
CHD may be detected on a foetal echocardiogram during the second trimester of pregnancy, through neonatal pulse oximetry screening after birth, or during a clinical examination prompted by symptoms such as cyanosis, poor feeding, or a cardiac murmur. Echocardiography is the primary diagnostic tool.
At what age can a child undergo paediatric cardiac surgery in Ahmedabad?
Timing depends entirely on the defect. Some critical conditions – such as Transposition of the Great Arteries – require surgery within the first days or weeks of life. Others are repaired electively in infancy or early childhood. EPIC Hospital’s paediatric cardiac team determines the optimal surgical timing for each child individually.
Is open-heart surgery safe for newborns?
Neonatal cardiac surgery carries inherently higher risks than surgery in older children. However, outcomes have improved dramatically in recent decades – driven by advances in surgical technique, cardiopulmonary bypass for small patients, neonatal cardiac anaesthesia, and paediatric intensive care. EPIC Hospital’s experienced team manages neonatal cardiac cases with a dedicated care pathway.
What is Tetralogy of Fallot and how is it treated?
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart defect, involving four anatomical abnormalities that together reduce oxygen delivery. Total surgical repair of TOF – closing the VSD and relieving the right ventricular outflow obstruction – is typically performed in infancy. Most children who undergo successful TOF repair lead active, full lives.
Can a hole in the heart close on its own?
Small VSDs frequently close spontaneously during the first year of life. Small secundum ASDs may also close spontaneously, but larger ones require device closure in the catheterisation lab or surgical repair. Your paediatric cardiologist will monitor the defect and recommend intervention when appropriate.
What is the best hospital for paediatric heart surgery in Ahmedabad?
EPIC Multispecialty Hospital, Ahmedabad has an experienced paediatric cardiac surgery team capable of managing the full spectrum of congenital heart disease – from catheter-based corrections to complex open-heart surgery and staged palliation for single-ventricle hearts.
What is the long-term outlook for children after cardiac surgery?
The vast majority of children who undergo successful surgical correction of congenital heart defects grow up to lead full, active, and near-normal lives. Regular long-term cardiology follow-up is essential to monitor heart function and guide activity, education, and lifestyle as the child develops.
Are government scheme benefits available for paediatric cardiac surgery in Gujarat?
Yes. Several state and central government health schemes support paediatric cardiac surgery costs for eligible families. Please speak to EPIC Hospital’s patient services team regarding current empanelment and applicable scheme coverage.