On 27/7, Master of Science, Doctor Tran Huy Hoang, from the General Surgery Department, Nhi Dong 1 Hospital, stated that the baby, weighing 4 kg, was transferred to the hospital in a lethargic state, groaning and experiencing difficulty breathing. The baby was born at Tra Vinh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, where doctors immediately covered and carefully protected the prolapsed heart to minimize the risk of injury, heat loss, and infection during resuscitation and transport.
Doctors diagnosed the baby with a chest-abdominal wall defect, accompanied by partial left ventricular ectopia. The patient also had multiple associated congenital heart defects, including patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and mild aortic arch hypoplasia. After more than one hour of surgery, the team successfully returned the prolapsed heart to the baby's chest, simultaneously repairing the abdominal wall and reconstructing the navel.
According to medical literature, congenital heart ectopia (ectopia cordis) is a defect with an incidence rate of 5,5-7,9 cases per one million live births. Most children with this condition also have complex chest wall, abdominal wall, and congenital heart defects, leading to a very severe prognosis.
Doctor of Medical Specialty II Ta Huy Can, Head of the General Surgery Department, Nhi Dong 1 Hospital, explained that when the heart is outside the body, it lacks the protection of the ribcage, making it vulnerable to injury, heat loss, infection, and hemodynamic instability. Therefore, covering and protecting the heart immediately after birth until surgery is crucial for the child's survival.
After several days of intensive treatment and care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the patient's health gradually stabilized, vital signs were well-maintained, and monitoring continues.
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Medical staff perform the surgery. Photo: Quynh Tran |
According to doctors, the close coordination between the referring hospital and the specialized hospital, from resuscitation and transport to surgery, saved the baby's life, offering hope for children born with rare congenital defects.
Le Phuong
