For the first time in Eastern India, blood transfusion inside womb saved life of an unborn at Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Kolkata

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-Healthy baby born after multiple blood transfusions inside womb

KOLKATA, October 27, 2021: For the first time in Eastern India, doctors at Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals gave a new lease of life to an unborn by blood transfusion inside womb. Rima was diagnosed with a rare complication of foetal hydrops during 24th week of pregnancy where fluids get accumulated in the foetus making the baby anaemic.  

Foetal hydrops is a rare problem (1 in 10,000) during pregnancy, which occurs in the second pregnancy when the mother’s blood group is A- (negative) and the father’s blood group is B+ (positive). In such cases if the first child is born with positive blood group, chances are there that the mother’s body fights the positive cells left after delivery. The presence of these antibodies affects the unborn during the second pregnancy. Hence the blood in the foetus turns into fluid and gets accumulated in the baby’s chest, tummy and under the skin.  Mortality rate of babies with foetal hydrops is 50% to 90% depending on how early it’s detected.

Dr Mallinath Mukherjee, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals said, “In such cases, blood transfusion to the unborn is the only way to save the baby’s life. Even with treatment, survival rate of such babies is extremely low. In this case we have been able to successfully deliver the baby at 35 weeks of pregnancy after 6 blood transfusions. We are also grateful to the health department of the state for trusting and allowing us for this special delivery.”

Dr Kanchan Mukherjee, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, who performed the blood transfusions, said, “Blood transfusion in foetus is extremely delicate and critical so we had to take utmost care of the baby and the mother during the procedures. With six transfusions, we have been able to increase the haemoglobin of the baby from 3 to 10 and arrange for timely delivery.”

Dr Jayanta Kr Gupta, Director & HOD Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata said, “We here at Apollo for the very first time in Eastern India did blood transfusion on an unborn and have been able to save the baby’s life from this rare condition of foetal hydrops. Even after the transfusions, it’s extremely critical to decide the timing of the delivery. Blood transfusion in unborn has several risk factors like infection in the womb leading to premature delivery, heart failure of the baby due to too much blood transfusion and even death of the mother if the blood reaches the mother.”

Doctors also advised checking blood groups before marriage and taking necessary precautions to avoid such problems during pregnancy. There are several antidotes like Anti D imuno globulin, which is given to the mothers after first delivery to prevent foetal hydrops in second pregnancy.

About Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (AHEL)

It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C. Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.

Now, as Asia’s foremost trusted integrated healthcare group, its presence includes over 12,000 beds across 71 Hospitals, 3,300 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care Clinics  and 150 diagnostic centers, 110  plus Telemedicine Centres, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical advancements with the most recent investment being the commissioning of South East Asia’s very first Proton Therapy Centre in Chennai.

Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honour, the Government of India had issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010.

For 35 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Its hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals in the country for advanced medical services.

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