Five-Month-Old Survives Rare Heart Surgery in Kazakhstan's Karaganda

A five-month-old child from Temirtau has undergone successful surgery for a severe congenital heart defect. The complex procedure took place at Karaganda’s Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 2. The intervention was vital for the child’s survival and long-term health. The infant was diagnosed with an intermediate form of atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), a condition further complicated by pulmonary hypertension. Early surgical treatment is the standard approach for such cases.

The operation involved a radical correction of the heart defect. Surgeons repaired the atrial septal defect, sutured the ventricular septal defect, and reconstructed the mitral valve. The procedure required exceptional precision due to the concurrent pulmonary hypertension.

A multidisciplinary team led the effort. Dmitry Gorbunov, head of UMC’s pediatric cardiac surgery department, worked alongside Ganibek Akzhanov, head of the same department at Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 2. Specialists from both the UMC Heart Center and the hospital collaborated on the open-heart surgery. The surgery restored normal blood circulation and reduced strain on the child’s heart. It significantly improved the outlook for the young patient. The successful intervention highlights the importance of specialised care in treating complex congenital conditions.