In Boston, a group of medical professionals has achieved a remarkable feat by carrying out a pioneering surgical procedure on a fetus to address a rare brain disorder called the vein of Galen malformation. While in-utero surgery has been utilized for various medical issues before, this particular surgery, which employed ultrasound guidance, was one of the earliest attempts to tackle this condition. The particulars of this procedure, conducted in March, were published in the journal Stroke on Thursday.
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When the blood vessel, which is responsible for transporting blood from the brain to the heart, known as the vein of Galen, does not form properly, it gives rise to a medical condition known as VOGM or vein of Galen malformation. This malformation causes excessive blood flow that puts pressure on the vein and heart, potentially causing health complications. According to Dr Darren Orbach, an authority in treating VOGM and a radiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, the two major hurdles posed by this condition are serious brain injuries and instant heart failure after birth.
Typically, infants with VOGM are treated after they are born using a catheter to insert small coils to regulate blood flow. However, Orbach believes that this treatment is often administered too late. VOGM results in a surge of blood towards the heart and lungs, compelling them to work extra hard to circulate blood throughout the body. Consequently, some infants may develop congestive heart failure. Furthermore, this condition can also cause a rise in blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which transport blood from the heart to the lungs.
Dr Darren Orbach, a radiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, who was involved in the surgical procedure, informed CNN that around 50 to 60 per cent of infants suffering from VOGM experience severe illness right away, and the mortality rate among them is about 40 per cent.
"The baby was thriving. The anatomy scan results were normal. All biophysical profiles were also normal. We genuinely believed that everything was fine," stated Kenyatta Coleman, the mother of the infant, in an interview with CNN.
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