Agartala, June 25: In a major milestone for Tripura’s healthcare sector, the Department of Cardiology at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital has successfully treated a complex congenital heart defect for the first time in the state without the need for open-heart surgery.
The patient, 11-year-old Arbik Debbarma, son of Sushil Debbarma from Mohanta Sardar Para under Teliamura block in Khowai district, had been suffering from a congenital heart defect (a hole in the heart) since birth. A Class VI student, Arbik experienced persistent breathing difficulties and recurrent chest infections.
He was admitted to GBP Hospital on March 12, 2026, following medical advice and was placed under the care of the Cardiology Department. After nearly two months of intensive treatment, observation, and diagnostic evaluations, he was discharged on May 12, 2026.
Subsequently, he was readmitted on June 1, 2026, when the Head of the Department of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Anindya Sundar Trivedi, reviewed his condition and decided to proceed with a specialized intervention.
On June 10, 2026, under the leadership of Dr. Trivedi, the highly complex procedure was successfully performed through a blood vessel using a catheter-based technique, eliminating the need for open-heart surgery. The nearly two-hour-long procedure successfully closed the defect in the child’s heart.
Arbik has since made a full recovery. His breathing difficulties and recurrent chest infections have been resolved, and he was discharged from the hospital in good health on June 19, 2026.
The successful procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Trivedi, with support from Cardiologists Dr. Rakesh Das and Dr. Manna Bhattacharjee. The Paediatrics Department was represented by Associate Professor Dr. Sribas Das and PG Doctor Dr. Syed Ashik. The anaesthesia team included Consultant Cardiac Anaesthesiologist Dr. Rimjhim Chakma and Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Monimoy Debbarma.
Other members of the medical team included Medical Officers Dr. Samrat Das, Dr. Aristotle Tripura, Dr. Khamili Debbarma, and Dr. Debashis Reang, Kishan Roy served as the Echo Technician, while the Cath Lab and technical team comprised Nurse Debabrata Debnath, Pranakrishna Deb, Manas Dutta, Titiksha Majumdar, and Technicians Sanjay Ghosh and Arijit Pal, along with other healthcare personnel.
Hospital authorities noted that such a procedure typically costs between ₹6 lakh and ₹8 lakh in private hospitals. However, under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, all investigations, treatment, and the complete procedure were provided free of cost at AGMC and GBP Hospital.
The achievement highlights the growing capabilities of GBP Hospital’s modern healthcare infrastructure, advanced Cath Lab facilities, and skilled medical professionals. It also reflects the state government's continued efforts to ensure that world-class, affordable healthcare services are accessible to people through public healthcare institutions.
This landmark success stands as a significant testament to the advancement of Tripura’s healthcare system and the government's commitment to delivering quality, affordable, and accessible medical care to all.