Vietnam’s First Fetal Cardiac Intervention Baby Discharged from Hospital

A baby with a congenital heart defect underwent fetal cardiac intervention and was discharged home in stable condition, representatives from Children's Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City said on February 19.

This is the first case of fetal cardiac intervention in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Earlier on January 4, doctors from Tu Du Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 successfully performed fetal cardiac intervention on a 32-week-old fetus with a severe congenital heart defect.

Following the successful intervention, on January 30, doctors from both hospitals decided to end the pregnancy at 37 weeks and four days. After birth, the infant underwent a single pulmonary valve dilation procedure and did not require stent placement, which must be done for congenital heart defects that were not intervened upon during fetal development.

Following the procedure, the infant continues to be monitored for circulation, breathing without oxygen support, and complete oral nutrition.

The entire treatment cost for the infant is estimated at VND100 million ($4,166) and this was covered by Health Insurance and supported by Children's Hospital 1.

(Suc Khoe Doi Song, Bao Quang Ninh, Vietnam Plus, NLD, VOV World)