Medical Marvel: Doctors Perform 'Balloon Dilation' On The Fetus In Mother's Womb In Just 90 Seconds

Medical Marvel: Doctors perform ‘Balloon Dilation’ on the fetus in mother’s womb in just 90 seconds

A team of doctors from AIIMS in Delhi have successfully performed a complex surgery on the grape-size heart of a fetus and reshaped it inside a mother’s womb.

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Doctors at the hospital said that the 28-year-old pregnant woman had suffered three miscarriages and was crestfallen when informed about the heart condition of the fetus in her womb.

Despite the discouraging news, the woman was determined to continue with the pregnancy and agreed to allow the doctors to carry out the procedure on the fetus’s heart.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi

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“A team of interventional cardiologists along with doctors from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS performed the procedure termed balloon dilation in the obstructed valve of the heart. Under the procedure which was performed under the guidance of ultrasound, a needle was inserted in the heart of the fetus and then using a balloon catheter, the obstructed valve was unclogged,” a senior doctor said.

The doctor said the whole process had to be done swiftly, and it was very challenging. However, they managed to complete it in around 90 seconds. The doctor further added that with this reshaping procedure, they hope the fetus’ heart will develop better. Both the fetus and the mother are stable and are being closely monitored.

What is balloon dilation?

Balloon dilation is a medical procedure used to open up a narrowed or constricted area within the body, such as a blood vessel, a digestive tract, or a respiratory passage. The procedure involves the use of a small balloon catheter, which is inserted into the affected area and then inflated to stretch and widen it.

The process of balloon dilation typically involves the following steps:

The patient is given a local anesthetic to numb the area being treated.
A thin catheter with a deflated balloon at its tip is inserted into the affected area, usually with the help of imaging technology like X-rays or ultrasound.
The balloon is then slowly inflated using a liquid or gas, which applies pressure against the walls of the narrowed area and widens it.
After the balloon has been inflated for a short period of time, it is deflated and removed.
The balloon dilation procedure can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including Narrowed blood vessels (arterial or venous stenosis) in the heart, legs, or other parts of the body.
Narrowed or blocked digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine
Narrowed or obstructed airways in the lungs, such as in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Balloon dilation is generally considered a safe and effective procedure, but there are some risks associated with it, such as bleeding, infection, or damage to the affected area. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of balloon dilation with you to determine if it is the best treatment option for your specific medical condition.