Dr. Suresh Rao

Dr Suresh Rao is an internationally acclaimed Director and Senior Consultant in Paediatric Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri West in Mumbai with a monumental 47 years of clinical experience. Widely recognized as one of the senior-most and most distinguished congenital heart surgeons in India, he provides world-class, life-saving surgical interventions for neonates, infants, and children with complex heart defects.

An exceptionally qualified surgeon, Dr Rao holds an MS in General Surgery, an MCh in CTVS, and a DNB in Cardiothoracic Surgery. His profound expertise has been shaped by advanced fellowships and training at premier global institutions, including the University of Alabama (USA), Children’s Hospital Sydney (Australia), and Green Lane Hospital (New Zealand). Having performed over 12,000 surgeries, he has pioneered numerous complex procedures, including Mumbai's first Double Switch Surgery for congenital heart disease.

Doctor Suresh Gururaja Rao currently practices as the Director of the Children's Heart Centre at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri West and as a Senior Consultant at Sanjeevani Mamta Hospital. He leverages his vast international expertise to deliver highly advanced therapies in neonatal heart surgery, complex congenital corrections, valve repairs, and arterial switch operations, ensuring the highest survival rates and optimal long-term outcomes for children.

Specialty Areas and Treatments

Dr Suresh Rao provides comprehensive pediatric cardiac care, utilizing state-of-the-art surgical technologies and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques.

Neonatal and Infant Heart Surgery

Dr Suresh is highly specialized in executing precise, life-saving surgeries for critically ill newborns:

• Advanced Arterial Switch and Double-Switch Operations
• Complex Norwood, Ross, and Fontan Procedures
• Repair of Hypoplastic and Interrupted Aortic Arches
• Management of Obstructed Total Anomalous Pulmonary Veins

Complex Congenital Heart Corrections

Dr Rao has extensive expertise in diagnosing and managing severe congenital heart defects:

• Advanced Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and Hole-in-Heart Repairs
• Comprehensive ALCAPA Corrections and Potts Shunts
• Complex Intraventricular Tunneling and Nikaidoh Root Translocations
• Coarctation and Aortic Arch Repairs

Paediatric Valve and Minimally Invasive Surgery

Dr S Rao offers highly specialized surgical interventions for complex valve anomalies and conduction support:

• Advanced Paediatric Valve Repair and Reconstruction
• Minimally Invasive Thoracic Techniques (Ministernotomies)
• Precision Pacemaker Implantation for Children
• Advanced Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO)

Research and Publications

Dr Suresh Rao is a highly prolific medical researcher with over 40 publications in international and national journals. His major clinical studies include:

• "Indian guidelines for indications and timing of intervention for common congenital heart diseases" — Published in the Annals of Pediatric Cardiology (2019), serving as a national consensus statement.
• "Malnutrition in Children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)" — A highly cited study published in Indian Pediatrics (2008).
• "Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Developing Countries" — Published in Pediatric Cardiology (2007), detailing the evolution of congenital heart care.
• "Effect of dexmeditomidine on postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia" — Published in Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia (2015).
• "Outcome of ventricular septal defect repair in a developing country" — Published in The Journal of Pediatrics (2002).

Awards and Recognitions

• Prof. Raj Tandon Orator — Awarded at the 19th Annual Conference of the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India (2018).
• Nitu Mandke Orator — Honored at the 97th National Conference of the Indian Medical Association (2017).
• Vocational Excellence Award — Awarded by the Rotary Club of Bombay Seaface for his immense contribution to Child Health Care (2013).
• Manibhai Patel Orator — Honored at the 14th Annual Meeting of the Indian Medical Association, Vadodara Branch (2012).
• Best Scientific Paper Award — Recognized by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics for his research on peritoneal dialysis in Pediatric Cardiac ICUs.

Education and Qualifications

• MBBS — Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai (1979)
• MS in General Surgery — Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai (1980)
• DNB in Cardiothoracic Surgery — National Board of Examinations, New Delhi (1988)
• MCh in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery — Sree Chitra Institute of Science and Technology, Trivandrum
• Fellowship in Special Congenital Heart Surgery — University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA

Professional Memberships

• Past President, Paediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI)
• Past President, Indian Associations of CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS)
• European Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (EACTS)
• World Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (WSPCHS)
• Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS)
• Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)

Professional Experience

Dr Suresh Rao currently practises at the following leading facilities across the MMR region:

• Director, Children's Heart Centre, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri West
• Senior Consultant, Sanjeevani Mamta Hospital and Research Centre, Andheri East
• Former Professor and HOD, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre
• Former Senior Registrar, Children’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia
• Former Registrar, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

Book an Appointment with Dr Suresh Rao

For an online appointment with Dr Suresh Rao, leading paediatric cardiac surgeon in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri West in Mumbai, or to check OPD timings and contact number, reach out through HexaHealth for priority booking.