A Myanmar Boy Who Could Barely Walk Gets a "New Life" with Help from Korean Medical Team

Congenital Heart Defect Myanmar 9-Year-Old Boy Koko
Regains Daily Life Thanks to Seoul National University Hospital Medical Staff

A Myanmar boy who had difficulty even walking due to a congenital heart defect was given a new life with the help of domestic medical staff.

According to Seoul National University Hospital on the 13th, Sai Ko Ko (9), a Myanmar boy with a congenital heart defect, underwent two surgeries at the hospital until last month and was completely cured.

Seoul National University Hospital announced that Koko (9, Sai Ko Ko), a Myanmar boy with a congenital heart defect, underwent surgery twice at the hospital until last month and has been fully cured. The photo shows Professor Kim Woonghan of Seoul National University Hospital (Department of Pediatric Thoracic Surgery) reviewing the surgical progress.
[Image source=Yonhap News Agency·Seoul National University Hospital] Photo by Kim Woonghan

Sai Ko Ko was born with a hole (ventricular septal defect) in the wall dividing the left and right ventricles. In addition, the pulmonary artery connecting the ventricle and the lungs was blocked, so there was no blood flow from the heart to the lungs. Sai Ko Ko’s lungs received blood flow from narrow collateral vessels between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Especially, due to hypoxia and the possibility of heart failure, Sai Ko Ko was unable to run and even had difficulty walking slowly.

To live a healthy life, Sai Ko Ko needed to undergo complex surgery. However, due to the local medical environment and economic situation, he was unable to receive proper treatment.

Missionary Jang Cheol-ho, who learned about Sai Ko Ko’s story, informed Seoul National University Hospital, and the hospital invited Sai Ko Ko to Korea through the “Overseas Pediatric Patient Invitation Surgery Project” to perform the surgery.

Koko, a Myanmar boy who regained his health through a surgery invited by Seoul National University Hospital.
[Image source=Yonhap News Agency·Seoul National University Hospital]

The first surgery, successfully performed in November 2019, involved connecting a 6mm artificial conduit from the aortic branch to the pulmonary artery to maintain blood flow. The second surgery aimed to create a normal blood flow path from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, similar to a healthy heart. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unstable conditions in Myanmar, the surgery originally expected in 2022 was delayed.

Fortunately, as international flights reopened, the hospital invited Sai Ko Ko to Korea last month, and the second surgery was successfully performed. Both surgeries were conducted by Professor Kim Woong-han (Pediatric Thoracic Surgery) and Professor Kim Ki-beom (Pediatrics) at the hospital.

Professor Kim Woong-han said, "For over four years, the medical staff at Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and supporting organizations have worked together for Sai Ko Ko’s treatment. We are pleased to have given Sai Ko Ko a healthy life and hope to his family through successful surgeries."

Meanwhile, Sai Ko Ko was discharged on the 22nd of last month and has returned to his home country, spending happy times with his family.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.