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PHCR Training Saves a Newborn’s Life

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Varditer and her little patient

Varditer Iskandaryan, 35, is a family physician and a clinical preceptor at the medical ambulatory of Gandzakar community of Tavush region. Varditer participated in a series of trainings organized by the Primary Healthcare Reform Project (PHCR) for family physicians and clinical preceptors. Training on cardiovascular diseases was the latest one in the series.  

This lifesaving story began on October 5, when Varditer went on a routine afterbirth home visit to Anna Yaribekyan who had just returned from the maternity hospital with her newly born baby, Tatoul. The routine examination of the young mother showed that she was recovering successfully. However, the infant’s breathing pattern and tachycardia made Varditer grow fearfully anxious. “I immediately recalled everything I learned as part of the “When and why to suspect cardiovascular problems in neonates and infants” module of the recent PHCR training,”she said later. Even despite the 130-kilometer distance to Yerevan, the doctor strongly advised that the parents should as soon as possible take the baby to cardiologists at the Children’s Department of the Yerevan Nork Marash Medical Center. Fortunately, they did not hesitate a moment and followed Varditer’s advice immediately.

After examining little Tatoul, doctors at Nork Marash Medical Center diagnosed a combined heart defect with patent ductus arteriosus and critical coarctation of aorta. The latter would lead to the baby’s death within the first two months of life. The doctors stated that this was an insidious disorder, hard to detect, and for this reason rarely identified in Armenia. In the meantime, though one of the leading causes of infant mortality from heart problems, this defect can be fully eliminated if addressed timely. The doctors at the Center admired Varditer’s professional attitude and knowledge. Tatoul was hospitalized and on November 6, underwent a heart surgery.
Soon enough, the baby recovered - to the utter joy of his happy parents and all the physicians. The final examination showed Tatoul’s heart and circulatory system had no more abnormalities, and he can live a healthy life.
Varditer will always remember this case as a truly unbelievable lifesaving experience. “I am so incredibly glad that the knowledge I obtained during PHCR trainings helped save a baby’s life,” said Varditer when the story came to its happy end. “You know, this is when it really pays to be a doctor.”