Brief

Dubai parents face Dh146,000 bill after baby’s emergency heart procedure

Tanya Sangtani, a two‑month‑old with a rare heart defect, underwent an emergency balloon atrial septostomy in Dubai and now faces a Dh146,515 bill and further surgery expenses.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:16:24 GMT

Two‑month‑old Tanya Sangtani, born on 19 August 2026 in Dubai, survived a life‑threatening heart defect after an emergency balloon atrial septostomy and now faces a hospital bill exceeding Dh146,000, Gulf News reported.

What happened

Tanya was diagnosed shortly after birth with mixed‑type Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC), a rare congenital defect where pulmonary veins connect abnormally to the heart. At about four weeks old her condition worsened, with three days of severe breathing difficulty and cyanosis that dropped her oxygen saturation to roughly 70 %. She was admitted to a Dubai cardiac intensive care unit, where doctors performed a balloon atrial septostomy – a catheter‑based procedure that enlarges an opening between the heart’s upper chambers to improve circulation. The treatment stabilised her, allowing her to breathe unaided, tolerate full oral feeds and gain weight.

What the reports add

Gulf News noted that after weeks of intensive care Tanya was discharged home for continued monitoring. The outlet estimated that corrective open‑heart surgery, required for a permanent fix, will cost between Dh250,000 and Dh300,000. The current outstanding hospital bill for the emergency care stands at more than Dh146,515.

What was said

Durgesh Sangtani, Tanya’s father and an Indian expatriate working in sales, told Gulf News, “Our twin daughters were born in August at a hospital in Dubai. We had no idea Tanya had a heart defect because it had not been detected before she was born. After her birth, she developed breathing difficulties, and doctors discovered the problem with her heart.”

How it came about

Tanya’s condition was not identified during prenatal screening. Within weeks of birth her breathing deteriorated, prompting the emergency cardiac intervention. While the procedure saved her life, it is only a temporary measure; a definitive open‑heart operation is planned, adding substantial future costs for the family.

Key facts

Baby Tanya Sangtani was born on 19 August 2026 with mixed‑type TAPVC. (gulfnews.com)
She underwent an emergency balloon atrial septostomy at about four weeks old. (gulfnews.com)
The emergency treatment left the family with a hospital bill of over Dh146,515. (gulfnews.com)
Corrective open‑heart surgery is estimated to cost between Dh250,000 and Dh300,000. (gulfnews.com)
Durgesh Sangtani, the father, works in sales and has lived in the UAE for 12 years. (gulfnews.com)