Terminating pregnancy is not an easy decision for parents, particularly when the foetus developing organs and limbs but with a critical problem in one of those vital organs. About 8-10 babies out of 1,000 are getting afflicted with some cardiac problems. And about two of them develop infections in valves, leading to blocks and ending pregnancies in abortions.

The 25-year-old school teacher Sirisha and her husband faced that tough question when doctors at the Care Hospitals found a severe obstruction in the aortic valve, resulting in failure of pumping of left ventricle to the body. They would have gone for termination like most pregnant women do.

“A normal course in such cases is abortion. But we suggested an intervention that could save the life of the baby. A science teacher, Sirisha courageously accepted the advice,” K Nageshwar Rao, chief pediatric cardiologist, has said.

“We have used a thin needle (thinner than those we use for taking injections) and reached the infected part to open the passage,” he said.

A team of 12 doctors and paramedics have taken part in the intervention, claimed to be a first in the country.

Second time successful

The doctors, however, were not successful in the first instance as the baby’s position was not favourable for an intervention. Dejected, the couple went home but only to be called back by the doctors who presented a new strategy to attend to the problem.

“We have decided to wait till the baby’s position in the womb turn convenient for us to start the procedure,” the doctor said.

While the mother was given general anaesthesia, the baby was given intra-muscular injection in the thigh for foetal anaesthesia to avoid its movements during the procedure. The mother’s abdomen was reached using a needle and the needle was guided through the uterus and to the chest and finally to the left ventricle.

“With an appropriate balloon and wire, the aortic valve was dilated to relieve the block. The baby was given medications to maintain heart rate and circulation,” the doctor said.

The baby will be monitored continuously in the womb and after the delivery. The procedure could cost Rs 3 lakh but the hospital subsidised the costs.

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