Successful brain surgery of a baby in womb: baby was born after 2 days
For the first time, successful brain surgery of a baby girl in the womb done. A team of 10 doctors performed the operation for two hours and after the surgery the baby was born after 2 days. This rare brain condition is known as “Venus of Galen malformation,”
This baby girl named Denver was born 2 days after the surgery. Then its weight was 1.9 kg. Seven- week- old Denver Coleman has no idea yet what a miracle she was able to bring into the world. When this child was in her mother’s womb, her brain surgery was done at the same time. This girl, who lives near Boston, has created history by participating in this experimental surgery.
Boston Children’s Hospital specialist Dr. Darren Orbach told that the baby had a rare blood vessel abnormality (blood clotting problem in the veins) in the brain. In medical science it is called Van of Gelen Malformation (VOGM). In this condition, the blood vessels that carry blood from the brain to the heart do not develop properly. This puts stress on the heart.
Blood was accumulating in a 14 mm pocket inside the brain
Dr. Orbach explains, ‘Blood started accumulating in a 14 mm wide pocket in Denver’s brain. This often leads to heart failure or brain damage in children. He cannot live for long. According to Dr. Orbach, in the 30th week of Kenyatta Coleman’s pregnancy, we found a problem with a routine ultrasound.
On March 15, at 34 weeks of pregnancy, we planned the surgery for this landmark clinical trial. The mother was given a spinal anesthetic to keep her awake. She was listening to music on headphones the whole time.
The challenge was to rotate the embryo to reach the needle: ‘The second step was to rotate the embryo to expose the brain and gain access,’ explains Dr. Orbach. The injection was given to the fetus to prevent pain and prevent movement.
Medical miracle happened in America’s hospital because of brain surgery in womb
Relieved when BP became normal Dr. Orbach says, ‘During scanning, BP showed normal in key areas. The weight at birth was 1.9 kg. There was no congenital disability.’ Mother and daughter are doing well, says Dr. Orbach. Mother Kenyatta says, ‘When she hears the cry of the daughter, she cannot express the feeling.’
Vein of Galen malformation
According to Boston Children’s Hospital specialist a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) is a type of rare blood vessel abnormality inside the brain. In VOGM, misshapen arteries in the brain connect directly with veins instead of connecting with capillaries, which helps slow blood flow. This causes a rush of high-pressure blood into the veins. This extra pressure in the veins can cause a number of problems. VOGM is a rare prenatal condition in which arteries bringing high-flow, high-pressure blood to the brain from the heart connect directly with one of the main collecting veins deep at the base of the brain, rather than to capillaries that are necessary to slow blood flow and deliver oxygen to surrounding brain tissue.
Due to changes in the infant’s vascular physiology during and after the birth process, the high flow in the malformation has an even more serious effect on the heart and brain after birth, putting enormous pressure on the newborn’s heart and lungs. This may also lead to pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, or other potentially life-threatening conditions. VOGM is most often first seen on a prenatal ultrasound and is definitively diagnosed by MRI during the late second or third trimester of pregnancy.
