NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has successfully performed Kenya’s first balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty on a premature newborn, marking a major milestone in the country’s neonatal cardiac care.
The groundbreaking procedure was carried out on February 5, 2026, by a team of specialist paediatric cardiologists, hospital officials said.
The surgery was performed on a baby born prematurely at 34 weeks on 2 January 2026 at KNH. Shortly after birth, the infant, one of a set of twins, developed breathing difficulties and required oxygen support.
Subsequent tests revealed the child had critical pulmonary valve stenosis, a life‑threatening condition caused by a severe narrowing of the pulmonary valve that restricts blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
In response, a multidisciplinary team led by Consultant Paediatric Cardiologists Dr. Esther Kimani and Dr. Naomi Gachara, with support from anaesthesia and nursing specialists, recommended an urgent balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.
Kenyatta National Hospital performs Kenya’s First Successful Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty on a Preterm Newborn 🎉A major milestone in neonatal and cardiac care, reaffirming KNH’s commitment to life-saving innovation.#KNHInakujali #KNHInaweza #MedicalBreakthrough
The minimally invasive procedure involves inserting a small tube (catheter) through a blood vessel to the heart, where a tiny balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed valve and restore normal blood flow to the lungs.
The operation, which lasted about 90 minutes, was successful. Follow‑up assessments the next day showed significantly improved blood flow and stable blood pressure.
By 10 February 2026, the newborn was breathing without oxygen support, feeding well and steadily gaining strength under close monitoring, hospital officials said.
The infant’s mother, Josephine Pilanci from Kajiado County, expressed deep gratitude to the medical team.
“I am grateful to God and to the doctors and nurses who never gave up on my baby,” she said, according to KNH.
Dr Richard Lesiyampe, Acting Chief Executive Officer of KNH, described the success as a reflection of the hospital’s commitment to advancing specialised care and improving survival outcomes for critically ill newborns.
He said the achievement highlights KNH’s growing capacity to manage complex congenital heart conditions locally, reducing the need for families to seek treatment abroad.
Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is widely recognised as a minimally invasive alternative to open heart surgery for patients with pulmonary valve stenosis.
It has been used globally to widen a narrowed valve and improve cardiac function, especially in infants and children with congenital heart defects.
The successful procedure positions KNH at the forefront of advanced neonatal cardiac interventions in East Africa, underscoring the hospital’s growing role as a centre of excellence for high‑risk medical care.
