13 children benefit from paediatric cardiac procedures

Thirteen children have benefitted from specialised cardiac care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), following a series of paediatric cardiac procedures performed through a collaboration between local and international medical specialists.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony visited the children at the hospital’s Paediatric High Dependency Unit, where he interacted with them, their families, and received updates on their recovery.

Procedures were conducted from September 28 to October 2 by an 18-member team from Apollo Hospitals in India, working alongside more than 50 GPHC healthcare professionals.

A total of 16 procedures were completed, including 10 complex open-heart surgeries, three catheter-based device closures and three diagnostic catheterisations. Some of the 13 patients underwent diagnostic catheterisation before receiving corrective surgery.

Of the 13 children treated, three remain hospitalised for continued care, while the others have since been discharged.

The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to expand access to specialised treatment for children with congenital heart defects, allowing patients to receive complex cardiac care closer to home.

Beyond the procedures themselves, the collaboration also provided an opportunity for local healthcare professionals to work alongside visiting specialists and strengthen their practical experience in paediatric cardiac care.