Developing fetal medicine, saving children in the womb

The above information was shared by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Anh - Director of the Central Obstetrics Hospital - at the 3rd annual Fetal Medicine conference, held on May 24 in Hanoi , organized by the Central Obstetrics Hospital.

According to Professor Anh, fetal medicine is a field that is receiving increasing attention and is constantly developing worldwide .

Professor Nguyen Duy Anh said that with the development of fetal medicine, many babies will be saved from the womb (Photo: Na Le).

This expert said that with a fetus weighing only about 800-900g, the baby's heart is only the size of a thumb tip, but thanks to fetal medicine, doctors have intervened in the heart chamber to repair and save the baby's life right in the womb.

In Vietnam, Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC) have coordinated to perform transuterine cardiac catheterization to save the life of a fetus with a severe heart defect. Doctors inserted interventional instruments into the fetus, the baby's heart was only as small as a fingertip but the doctors were able to cure the heart defect of the fetus. To date, at least 5 babies have undergone intrauterine cardiac catheterization at Tu Du Hospital.

"Previously, the fetal field, specifically the uterus or amniotic cavity, was considered inviolable. But with modern medicine, it is completely possible to perform examinations and treatments for the fetus, even using robots, endoscopes and lasers to treat fetal abnormalities," Professor Anh informed.

However, the cost of fetal intervention treatment, some techniques cost hundreds of millions of VND due to expensive equipment and treatment materials. Therefore, Professor Anh proposed that health insurance cover fetal intervention to reduce the financial burden on families.

In Vietnam, there are currently many medical facilities that can implement this field very well, such as the Central Maternity Hospital, Tu Du Hospital, Hanoi Maternity Hospital...

"Diseases related to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, amniotic band problems causing fetal defects, oligohydramnios problems, blood transfusion when the fetus is severely anemic, diaphragmatic hernia, pleural effusion, hydronephrosis or hydronephrosis... can all be successfully treated right from the fetus," Professor Anh informed.

It is expected that next June, the Central Maternity Hospital will establish a Fetal Medicine Center.

The Center's goal is to work with major hospitals nationwide in obstetrics and gynecology to guide all medical levels on pregnancy management. In any case where fetal intervention is needed, intervention will definitely be performed to save the child.

The 3rd Annual Fetal Medicine Conference gathered nearly 500 delegates, with the participation of many leading domestic and international experts in the fields of: Fetal medicine, prenatal diagnosis and related specialties such as diagnostic imaging, neonatology and genetics...

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Anh and delegates attending the conference (Photo: Na Le).

The conference has 12 scientific reports on the topics: Fetal surgical interventions: present and future; laser surgery in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome - controversial issues; accessibility to treatment of monochorionic twins with complications in Vietnam...

In addition, attending doctors also had access to the following techniques: Prenatal diagnostic procedures - technical aspects; challenges in pleural drainage - amniotic sac and amniotic bladder; fetal blood transfusion; amnioscopic laser ablation of placenta...

Notably, this is the first time Vietnamese doctors have been trained in the FETO technique - the technique of placing and removing balloons in the treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia - an extremely complex technique only available at the world's leading Fetal Medicine Centers.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/phat-trien-y-hoc-bao-thai-cuu-tre-tu-trong-bung-me-20250524232823571.htm