Nikita Karamanidis was born with a rare birth defect, oesophageal atresia, almost six months ago.
Her condition was diagnosed on a 16-week-scan, when the doctor noticed there was no connection between her oesophagus and her stomach.
This defect is treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital about 20 times a year; Nikita, however, had the rare ‘long gap’ version seen just once a year, director of neonatal medicine Rod Hunt stated.
While in other cases the oesophagus is reconnected within a week and the parents are able to take the baby home in about a month, Nikita was unable be fed orally or swallow even, as her tiny oesophagus allowed a six centimetre gap between the stomach. The medical team had to wait until the gap was small enough to assist the surgery.
During that time, nutrition has to be delivered directly into her stomach via tube with round-the-clock suctioning to prevent saliva reaching her lungs.
Chris and Isabelle Karamanidis trusted their baby girl in Joe Crameri’s experienced hands, though not even the head of paediatric and neonatal surgery could promise the gap would close enough for them to take Nikita home after the five-month waiting period.
The Royal Children’s Hospital’s newborn intensive care unit recently gave the baby her first bottle feed, and they are planning to soon discharge the Butterfly Ward’s current longest resident.
Nikita’s six-hour surgery was successful and Mr Crameri managed to connect her organs without having to cut part of her stomach to create a new oesophagus.
“It was incredible. We weren’t expecting it. That surgeon walked through those doors, it had been a long day, and he was exhausted but he had the biggest smile on his face,” Nikita’s mum Isabelle Karamanidis said.
“The odds were pretty low because she had such a long gap. But he joined her upper and lower oesophagus together without having to use any of her stomach.
“She’s such a good baby, she’s so happy and doesn’t cry. It’s because of the nurses. All the love and attention they give is amazing,” she added.