Fetal Heart Valve Intervention at 27 Weeks of Pregnancy

At Hacettepe University, a fetus diagnosed with severe pulmonary valve narrowing and an underdeveloped right ventricle was treated in the womb at 27 weeks of pregnancy. Following a joint evaluation by the pediatric cardiology and perinatology teams, obstetricians reached the fetal heart with a special needle; a wire advanced through the needle crossed the valve, which was then dilated with a balloon.

Prof. Dr. Tevfik Karagöz, a member of the team, explained that the narrowing had caused the right ventricle to thicken and shrink, and said the procedure was successful with no adverse events. The baby was born by caesarean section at 37 weeks, and an additional balloon procedure was performed after birth.

Source: Anadolu Agency (1 January 2021)