Singaporean pregnant woman whose fetus had a heart catheterization performed by a Vietnamese doctor has returned home safely.

A Singaporean woman has returned home safely nearly two weeks after the fetus in her womb had a successful heart catheterization. Doctors at KK Woman's and Children's Hospital received the woman late on June 9.

After nearly 2 weeks, the fetus in the womb with a severe congenital heart defect was successfully catheterized by a team of doctors from Tu Du and Nhi Dong 1 hospitals. The Singaporean couple returned home safely - Photo: XUAN MAI

On the morning of June 10, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong said that the Singaporean mother returned home safely two weeks after the fetus was successfully catheterized by a team of doctors from Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 on May 28.

Online consultation

Doctors from KK Woman's and Children's Hospital received the patient directly from doctors from Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 at 11:30 p.m. on June 9.

To bring the Singaporean pregnant woman back to Vietnam, the fetal interventional cardiology team from Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 had an online consultation with obstetricians and pediatricians from KK Woman's and Children's Hospital about the health of the mother and fetus.

On the afternoon of June 9, at the request of the directors of Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1, the Department of Health approved doctors from the two hospitals to directly assist in bringing the pregnant woman back to Singapore to hand over to the Singapore Maternity and Children's Hospital.

Singaporean doctors admire and rejoice

This morning, June 10, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong - Deputy Director of Children's Hospital 1 and Dr. Trinh Nhat Thu Huong - Head of the Prenatal Care Department of Tu Du Hospital - were assigned to help bring the patient to the table for Singapore Maternity and Children's Hospital and quickly reported to the Director of the Department of Health.

Due to the late departure flight (3 hours later than scheduled), we landed at 10pm and arrived at KK Woman's and Children's Hospital in Singapore at nearly 11:30pm.

Everyone was exhausted due to the delayed flight, but when they arrived at KK Woman's and Children's Hospital, the group was warmly and friendly welcomed by Singaporean doctors.

They expressed admiration and joy at the success of the fetal heart catheterization intervention at Tu Du and Children's Hospital 1. Immediately afterwards, the pregnant woman was taken to the recovery room for monitoring and further treatment.

The fetal cardiology intervention team of Tu Du and Children's Hospital 1 will continue to keep in contact with KK Woman's and Children's Hospital about the progress of the mother and fetus in the coming time.

Earlier, just one day after the fetus had a successful heart catheterization, the Singaporean couple wrote a letter of thanks to the doctor. The couple said that although the fetus' condition was very serious and unfavorable, the doctors did not give up.

"This experience will forever be in our hearts. Words cannot express how grateful we are to the amazing medical team in Vietnam. Thank you so much for everything you have done for us," the couple wrote.

Fetal heart catheterization is the most complicated, difficult and dangerous

Also on June 9, right after presenting the Ministry of Health 's certificates of merit to Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 for their outstanding achievements in performing transfetal cardiac catheterization, the Ministry of Health delegation led by Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan visited and encouraged the Singaporean couple before they flew back home.

It is known that the 25-week-old fetal heart catheterization (weighing 600 grams) for a Singaporean pregnant woman is the most difficult case among the 9 fetal heart intervention cases at Tu Du Hospital (HCMC) so far.

According to Dr. Do Nguyen Tin - Head of the Cardiovascular Intervention Unit at Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC), the Singaporean case was the most complicated, difficult and dangerous with two interventions.

During the first fetal catheterization of a Singaporean pregnant woman, the team had to stop because it took more than an hour but still could not reach the fetus' heart. "This was the moment we had to stop, "accept defeat" to preserve the fetus' life.

After seven days, we performed a second catheterization with the total allowed time for dilating the heart valve being only 10-15 seconds. If it were prolonged, it would be dangerous for the fetus."

SPRING PLUM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/san-phu-singapore-co-bao-thai-duoc-bac-si-viet-nam-thong-tim-da-ve-nuoc-an-toan-20250610081855188.htm