8/14/2019 Uganda Girl gets new a Life at Wockhardt Hospitals

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14 year old girl from Uganda undergoes Life Saving Surgery

at Wockhardt Hospitals, Bangalore

Bangalore, 18 th June, 2009: A 14 year old girl from Uganda who came to Indiawith a dilating heart showing signs of heart failure has undergone a complicatedopen heart surgery at Wockhardt Hospitals. The cardiac team at Wockhardt Hospitalsled by Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chief Cardio Thoracic Surgeon performed risky andcomplicated open heart procedure to replace the mitral valve, repair a leakingtricuspid valve and maze procedure to correct her abnormal heart rhythm.

Abigail Kanyonyozi was brought to Wockhardt Hospitals when she was on the brink of heart failure. Abigail was diagnosed to have a blood cancer called acute myeloidleukaemia in 2000 and Lynda’s saga of her fight for her daughter began. Abigail had

8/14/2019 Uganda Girl gets new a Life at Wockhardt Hospitals

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undergone a prolonged and expensive treatment in South Africa for her blood cancer.This led Lynda (her mother) exhaust her all finances to bring Abigail back to normallife. After few years of fully recovering from her blood cancer Abigail was diagnosedwith heart disease called dolurebecin cardio myopathy which dilates the heartresulting in cardiac failure.

Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chief Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals said, “On further examination it was found that the child had a heavy heart and wassuffering from rheumatic heart disease (a condition in which permanent damageto heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever), with severe leakage of her heartvalves – mitral and tricuspid valve (a valve located between the right atrium andthe right ventricle). The leakage had caused stretching of the heart and irregularheart rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) which was primarily contributing toher heart failure. Her condition was very critical and immediate surgery was the onlyoption to save the child.” Abigail had to undergo a complex and prolonged surgerywhich involved replacement of her mitral valve, repairing of tricuspid valves and acomplicated maze operation to correct her heart rhythm.

The surgery was successfully performed and the heart was contracted to a greatextent. Abigail was no longer suffering from breathlessness and body swelling andher heart was strongly beating. “The child can now live a robust life adds DR. Jawali”.Abigail was discharged from the hospital within a week’s time post her surgery.

Atrial fibrillation is a kind condition where the speed or rhythm of the heart beat isaffected due to a disorder in the hearts electrical impulses. The heart may beat toofast or too slow or it may vary in pace as the hearts upper and lower chambers beatout of sequence.