In a groundbreaking surgery, a team of American doctors successfully treated a rare blood vessel abnormality inside a baby’s brain while she was still in the womb. The surgery was conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital on a fetus with a condition known as “Vein of Galen malformation” (VOGM).
VOGM occurs when the blood vessel that carries blood from the brain to the heart doesn’t develop correctly, leading to an overwhelming amount of blood stressing the veins and heart, which can cause several health problems. Infants with this condition are typically treated after birth using a catheter to insert tiny coils to slow down blood flow, but the treatment often happens too late, leading to severe neurological and cognitive issues. In this case, the surgery was conducted at 34 weeks of pregnancy, using ultrasound guidance and a needle similar to those used for amniocentesis, and tiny coils that were placed directly into the abnormal blood vessels to stop blood flow.
The surgery was conducted on Baby Denver, who was growing normally inside her mother when doctors discovered the condition during a routine ultrasound. Denver’s heart was struggling, and the malformation was getting dangerously large, which put her at a higher risk of heart failure or brain damage, which often results in fatalities.
VOGM is a type of rare blood vessel abnormality inside the brain where misshapen arteries connect directly with veins instead of capillaries, which helps slow down blood flow. This leads to a rush of high-pressure blood into the veins, which can cause several problems. Dr. Darren Orbach, a radiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an expert in treating VOGM, told CNN that “tremendous brain injuries and immediate heart failure after birth are the two big challenges.”
The successful surgery on Baby Denver has opened up new possibilities for treating VOGM in fetuses, which could significantly improve the survival rate and reduce the risk of severe neurological and cognitive issues. It also highlights the potential of medical advancements in treating complex medical conditions, providing hope to many families who are struggling with similar challenges.
