Brahmananda Narayana Multispeciality Hospital (BNMS), at Tamolia near here, recently performed a rare surgery to give a “blue baby” a fresh lease of life.

Blue baby syndrome, also known as infant methemoglobinemia, is a condition where a baby’s skin turns blue due to less amount of haemoglobin in the blood. Congenital defects of the heart or blood vessels are one of the major reasons why this happens.

In the case of the blue baby boy born on January 6 to a young Golpahari couple (they refused to be named), its pulmonary artery — one of the main arteries to support life — was missing.

A team of paediatrics and cardiac surgeons at the BNMS, a unit of Narayana Health owned by famed cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, successfully corrected this rare anomaly.

The baby, born at the Bina Pani Nursing Home in Kadma, developed breathing problems two days after birth. His parents first took the infant to Tata Main Hospital which his parents said refused to admit him. The newborn was then taken to Tata Motors Hospital. Two days there, the baby, gasping for breath, was referred to BNMS.

A team led by Dr Pankaj Kumar Gupta, consultant in cardiology (paediatrics), assisted by Dr Umesh Prasad, head of anaesthesia, and Dr Abhay Krishna, senior consultant (cardiology), performed the surgery on January 19.

Talking to The Telegraph Dr Pankaj Gupta said the newborn had pulmonary atresia, which affects one in 1,000 babies andbecomes life-threatening if not treated.

“In simple terms, the baby was diagnosed with an absent pulmonary artery. So, impure blood mixed with pure blood in his body resulting in the bluish colour,” he said.

Dr Abhay Krishna said that usually in these cases babies survive up to one month.

“This baby was shifted to our cath lab for the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting procedure,” he said. “It was a life-saving procedure in the first phase of treatment. At 18 months, he needs an open-heart surgery to lead a normal life,” said the doctor.

At Rs 2 lakh, the surgery was a boon for the newborn’s middle-class family. The baby’s 24-year-old father, who runs tutorial classes, said: “He is doing well. I thank the doctors for saving my son. I only pray that he lives a long and healthy life.”