Doctors performed a life-saving surgery, the first of its kind, when they were able to repair an abnormal artery in the brain of a 34-week-old fetus inside the womb.
American doctors treated a fatal vein in the fetus, preventing heart failure and stroke soon after birth.
Brain surgery in the womb has been done before, but not for this rare disease called Gallen's vein and aneurysm anomalies.
The girl, who suffers from this rare condition, was born without complications, indicating that the procedure can treat children safely.
MRI scans revealed that the central vein was larger than 14 mm in diameter. "When the vein is 8 millimeters wide or larger, we know with 90 percent certainty that the baby will be very sick after birth," said Dr. Darren Auerbach, of Boston Children's Hospital. "This was one of the most aggressive deformities we've ever seen."
Doctors performed the operation on the mother in the 34th week of pregnancy, and the surgery took less than two hours.
A team of 10 doctors used ultrasound to guide a long needle through the mother's abdomen to the part of the baby's brain where the arteries were affected. Then they injected a small substance into the vessel to prevent backflow into the veins.
An ultrasound scan a day later showed a 43% decrease in the amount of blood pumped by the fetus's heart. MRI images taken before and after surgery also revealed that the vein had shrunk by about 5 mm in diameter.
The baby was born prematurely, two days later, without complications. She did not need heart medications or additional surgery.
Dr Auerbach said: "This approach has the potential to revolutionize intravenous management of Galenic malformation. We fix the malformation before birth and prevent heart failure before it occurs rather than trying to reverse it after birth. This may significantly reduce the risk of long-term brain damage or disability." or death among these children.
Dr Auerbach said: "The baby is growing remarkably well, is not taking any medication, is eating normally, is gaining weight, and there are no signs of any negative effects on the brain. It was great because usually such babies are very ill." He confirmed that the baby, who is now 7 weeks old, still appears to be in good health.
Galen's vein malformation (VOGM) causes arteries in the brain to drain blood directly into the veins instead of the capillaries, flooding the heart and causing brain damage. Babies may not survive after the first few days of birth.
Current treatments are limited to after the baby is born, when brain damage has already occurred in most cases.
The new procedure, published in the medical journal Stroke, aims to treat the condition before it affects a baby after birth.
Dr. Carol Benson, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, noted that the surgery requires the care of both mother and child, and that although it is a promising way to prevent brain injury and death in infants with untreatable Galenic venous malformations after birth, it is in Any time you have fetal surgery, there is a risk of complications, particularly premature delivery.
Dry mouth may be a symptom of five serious diseases
Many people experience dry mouth, which is often a benign condition caused by problems such as producing less saliva, smoking or taking certain medications, snoring, or excessive alcohol consumption.
However, this poor oral health can be a warning sign for a range of serious, potentially life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, and even HIV.
Persistent dry mouth can often be a sign that something is wrong elsewhere in the body, said Dr. Azad Eromelu, of leading dental firm Banning Dental Group.
He continued, “A dry mouth can be a sign that something isn’t right elsewhere. This can manifest itself through symptoms such as a feeling of stickiness in the mouth, dryness, sore throat, difficulty chewing or swallowing, or even bad breath. It can be a bad breath.” Some health conditions such as stroke, diabetes or Alzheimer's disease can present themselves in this way, while these symptoms can also be indicative of an autoimmune disorder such as HIV or Sjogren's syndrome.
Dr Eromelu added, “When you visit a dentist, we don’t just care about your oral health. We are trained on how to spot some of the broader issues related to your general health as well. It is essential that you keep a close eye on your health, and if you notice persistent symptoms of dry mouth, you should speak with your doctor.” about that.”
Sjogren's syndrome (a disorder of the immune system)
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, occurs when our salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist.
And although we may never think about its importance, saliva plays a major role in oral health because it helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria as well as remove food particles.
It is also necessary to prevent tooth decay, and it also contains important enzymes that aid in digestion, ensuring that our bodies get the vitamins and nutrients it needs.
It is recommended to visit a dentist every six months to ensure that your oral hygiene is in good condition and to track any problems that develop.
Experts recommend brushing for two minutes with fluoride toothpastes at least twice a day, in addition to regular flossing and mouthwashing.
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