In an era when "abortion" is one of the chief medical buzzwords, it's good to see there are still doctors performing run-of-the-mill old-fashioned medical miracles like this:
Doctors have saved a baby in the womb from a deadly genetic disorder with a first-of-its-kind brain surgery.
The baby was diagnosed with a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) at 30 weeks.
According to the Boston Children's Hospital, a "vein of Galen malformation" occurs when "misshapen arteries in the brain connect directly with veins, instead of connecting with capillaries, which help slow blood flow." This results in "a rush of high-pressure blood into the veins." Bad news for anyone; very bad news for a baby.
As unbelievable as the procedure sounds, it's outwardly a pretty straightforward A-to-B setup: The doctors cut into the pregnant mother's abdomen, then the uterus, then the baby's skull, after which they performed the operation, using ultrasound to help locate the artery.
The little guy was subsequently born a decent bit underweight but with "no birth defects and limited complications." Three weeks later "the baby had no signs of abnormal blood flow shown in MRI scans and needed no cardiovascular assistance."
As the doctors put it: "[W]e were thrilled to see that the aggressive decline usually seen after birth simply did not appear."
Mood right now:
