AIIMS doctors have successfully performed a complex surgery on the grape-size heart of fetus inside a mother's womb.
The 28-year-old pregnant woman, who had suffered three miscarriages in the past, was determined to continue with the pregnancy after she was informed about the heart condition of the fetus in her womb, doctors at the hospital said, according to PTI. She agreed to allow the doctors to carry out the procedure on the fetus' heart.
"Some types of serious heart diseases can be diagnosed while the baby is in the mother's womb. Sometimes, treating them in the womb may improve the outlook for the baby after birth and lead to near normal development," ANI quoted the team of doctors from the Department of Cardiology & Cardiac Anesthesia, along with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology (Fetal medicine) of AIIMS.
This procedure is called balloon dilation of an obstructed valve in the baby's heart.
The procedure is done under ultrasound guidance, "We placed a needle through the mother's abdomen into the baby's heart. Then, using a balloon catheter, we opened the obstructed valve to improve blood flow. We expect and hope that the baby's heart will develop better and the heart disease will be less severe at birth," ANI quoted the senior doctor who performed the surgery.
"The whole procedure had to be done very swiftly. It was very challenging. We managed to do it in around one-and-half minutes," the doctor said according to PTI.
"With this reshaping procedure, hopefully the fetus' heart will develop better. Both the fetus and the mother are stable and are being monitored closely," the doctor added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the doctors for successfully performing this complex surgery. “Proud of India’s doctors for their dexterity and innovation," PM Modi tweeted.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, "I congratulate the team of doctors of @AIIMS_NewDelhi for performing successful rare procedure on grape size heart of a fetus in 90 seconds. My prayers for the well-being of the baby and the mother."
