Doctors operate on 28-week-old foetus with heart disease inside mother’s belly
Doctors in Guangzhou Province, South China have successfully operated on a 28-week-old foetus with congenital heart disease – while in its mom’s belly.
The 39-year-old patient, whose surname is Xie, became pregnant for a second time six months ago.
The director of Guangdong General Hospital,
Zhuang Jian, said Xie had an ultrasonic test 21 weeks later, which showed the foetus was suffering from arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Zhuang Jian, said Xie had an ultrasonic test 21 weeks later, which showed the foetus was suffering from arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
He noted that the chances of survival were very low if surgery was undertaken after birth.
Xie insisted she wanted to keep the baby.
Doctors in Guangzhou conducted interventional cardiology treatment, with the help of experts from Austria.
Jian added that the size of the foetus’ heart was as small as an almond so the slightest movement could have resulted in damage.
Xie left the hospital four days after the successful operation.
This is the first time Chinese doctors have conducted an interventional cardiology operation on a fetus’ congenital heart disease.
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