Detecting a heart defect in the mother’s womb, which was life-threatening, the baby girl was given two surgeries by doctors immediately after birth.
MSc. Nguyen Trung Kien – Deputy Director of Pediatrics Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said that the baby’s mother came to the hospital for a check-up when she was 31 weeks pregnant. During an ultrasound of the fetus at the provincial hospital, the doctor suspected that the fetus had a heart problem, so the pregnant woman was transferred to Bach Mai.
Through ultrasound examination, doctors at Bach Mai Hospital discovered that the fetus had severe pulmonary valve stenosis and right ventricular hypoplasia. The doctor recommended early intervention immediately after birth. If not treated promptly, the child’s life will be dangerous.
Next, the pregnant woman was transferred to the provincial hospital for monitoring. On February 20, the baby was born at 39 weeks, weighing 3.5 kg at Vinh Phuc Obstetrics and Children’s Hospital, and was immediately transferred to Bach Mai Hospital for pulmonary valvuloplasty. Three days later, the baby received a second intervention with the ductus arteriosus stent technique.
The doctor reexamines the child before leaving the hospital.
“This is a difficult and delicate technique, especially for newborns, because newborn babies’ blood vessels are fragile ,” the doctor said. Newborns have low birth weight and weak resistance. The intervention process faces many difficulties. Doctors are very careful because even a small mistake will affect the baby’s life. After 2 interventions, the baby’s health is now stable.
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam – Director of the Pediatric Center, Bach Mai Hospital said that fetal echocardiography is extremely important. Diagnosing congenital heart disease in the fetus is widely practiced around the world, bringing very clear results in treatment and prognosis, allowing for timely treatment as soon as the child is born.
Dr. Nam recommends that pregnant women, in addition to having an ultrasound to check the fetus on a regular schedule, should have a fetal echocardiogram and congenital heart screening for the fetus right in the womb. Being diagnosed and receiving timely treatment as soon as the child is born will ensure the child’s safety.