Kenyatta National Hospital has successfully performed Kenya’s first balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty on a premature newborn, marking a major milestone in neonatal cardiac care.
The baby is one of premature twins born on January 2, 2026, to Josephine Pilanoi from Kimana, Kajiado County, at 34 weeks through an emergency Caesarean section at the hospital.
One of the twins, weighing 2.26kg, was diagnosed with critical pulmonary valve stenosis, a serious congenital heart condition that restricts blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
Shortly after birth, the affected twin developed breathing difficulties and required oxygen support. Further medical assessment detected an abnormal heart sound (murmur), prompting additional tests.
An echocardiogram later confirmed that the baby’s pulmonary valve was severely narrowed, placing dangerous strain on the heart and reducing oxygen supply to the body.
“Following these findings, a multidisciplinary team at KNH recommended an urgent procedure to open the narrowed valve and restore normal blood flow to the lungs,” the hospital said.
The procedure was successfully performed on February 5 and lasted about one and a half hours.
It was led by Esther Kimani and Naomi Gachara, consultant paediatric cardiologists, alongside Tatiana Mutinda, a paediatric cardiology fellow.
A follow-up assessment the next day showed significant improvement in blood flow and stable blood pressure.
The baby steadily improved, was gradually taken off oxygen, and by 10th February was breathing normally.
Further tests confirmed continued progress. The infant is now stable, feeding well, and gaining strength under close monitoring by our doctors.
Pilanoi expressed gratitude for the care her baby received, saying: “I am grateful to God and to the doctors and nurses who never gave up on my baby.”
KNH’s Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Richard Lesiyampe, said the successful procedure reflects the hospital’s commitment to strengthening specialised services and improving survival outcomes for critically ill newborns.
Lesiyampe further stated that KNH will continue investing in advanced technology, staff training, and multidisciplinary teamwork to ensure patients, especially the most vulnerable, have access to world-class care locally without the need to seek treatment abroad.
Explainer: What the surgery entails
A balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to open a narrowed pulmonary valve. During the procedure, doctors insert a small tube (catheter) through a blood vessel and guide it to the heart, where a balloon is inflated to widen the valve and allow blood to flow more freely to the lungs.
The second twin is stable and doing well.
