In a remarkable medical success, doctors at Manipal Hospital saved an unborn baby girl after diagnosing a rare and life-threatening heart condition during a routine antenatal scan.
At 30 weeks of pregnancy, Bengaluru resident Anitha had gone for a regular check-up when specialists noticed that her baby’s heart was beating at an extremely dangerous speed. Further examination revealed fluid accumulation around the baby’s heart and abdomen, signalling severe distress.
Doctors diagnosed the unborn child with Supraventricular Tachycardia, a condition where an abnormal electrical circuit causes the heart to beat far too fast.
Race against time before birth
Medical experts warned that if left untreated, the disorder could lead to heart failure or death inside the womb. Since the baby was too premature for safe delivery, doctors had to act immediately using a specialised treatment plan.
A team led by Dr Shailaja N, along with Dr Adi Narayan, Dr Surekha Balaji and Dr Pavankumar P Rasalkar administered antiarrhythmic medicines to the mother.
The medicines crossed the placenta and reached the baby’s bloodstream, helping slow the abnormal heart rhythm.
Careful monitoring brings hope
Doctors closely monitored the mother’s ECG, heart scans and blood tests, as the medicines also carried risks for her own heart rhythm. She additionally developed low potassium levels during treatment.
Over the following weeks, fetal scans showed steady improvement. The fluid around the baby reduced and the heart rhythm gradually normalised.
Healthy baby delivered at 37 weeks
At 37 weeks, Anitha underwent a Caesarean section and delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 3.02 kg.
Both mother and child were discharged three days later in good health, marking a heartwarming victory for modern fetal medicine.