Paul Gilmore, of Prestwick, Ayrshire, was born with a rare combination of heart problems that put his life at risk, and which had failed to respond to conventional heart surgery.

Rob Flett reports on pioneering surgery

Doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow took the decision to try out the new technique in a bid to repair leaking valves in a chamber of the youngster's heart.

A narrow tube was threaded from a vein in Paul's leg to an artery in his heart, where it was then manoeuvred into position to close the leak.

Cardiologist Dr Neil Wilson carried out the four-and-a-half hour operation with Dr Carlos Ruiz from Los Angeles.

He said: "Paul has a tube constructed of metallic mesh and teflon inside his heart which is diverting blue blood into his lungs.

"There is no indication that this should not do anything else but keep him pink - maintain his level of oxygen - and give him a good future."

The recovery period was much shorter than for conventional heart surgery.

Paul was admitted on December 14 and discharged three days later.

Dr Wilson said: "If he hadn't had this he would have required a full operation. He would have needed some weeks in hospital and he certainly couldn't have been able to go home by Christmas."

Teflon tube

Paul was treated with a teflon coated tube

Dr Wilson explained the tube, which is coated with Teflon, is about four inches long and just over an inch wide.

He added: "The Teflon will stretch so we will be able to increase the width of this as Paul grows.

"We hope he will not require any more conventional surgery."

Paul's father John said: "It is still very early stages, but his colour is so much better - he is pink rather than blue, and his oxygen levels are high, and near to normal.

"It was a revolution for us. We are very pleased with the result. Obviously we are very grateful to Dr Wilson and his team."

He stressed Paul had been very much involved in the decision to go ahead with the operation, and added: "Paul wanted to go through with it. He helped us make the decision. He fully understands what happened to him."

Paul, who is a pupil at Kingcase primary school, Prestwick, said he was looking forward to having enough energy to resume his hobby of playing the drums.

Dr Neil Wilson who carried out the operation

Dr Wilson said he hoped the operation Paul had undergone could be used to help treat people with similar heart problems, but said the need for this kind of surgery would probably remain rare.