Doctors at MGH Jaipur save yet another life, this time even before birth

Doctors at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital (MGH) here yet again performed a rare life-saving medical feat. They saved a life, this time, even before birth.

A team of specialists at the MGH successfully treated a rare and life-threatening fetal heart rhythm disorder and saved the life of an unborn baby. Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) was diagnosed at the 25th week of pregnancy when the fetus was found to have an abnormally fast heart rate. The disorder posed a serious risk of fetal heart failure and intrauterine death.

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Dr. Prerna Bhat, Fetal and Pediatric Cardiologist, identified the condition and initiated timely treatment. The mother was administered transplacental anti-arrhythmic therapy, allowing the medication to reach the fetus through the placenta. Within 72 hours of starting treatment, the fetal heart rate returned to normal, enabling the pregnancy to progress safely.

The fetus remained stable for nearly ten weeks. However, at 35 weeks of gestation, the arrhythmia recurred, prompting doctors to proceed with delivery. After birth, the newborn continued to experience tachyarrhythmia for 48 hours.

The medical team successfully controlled the condition using a combination of two anti-arrhythmic medications, and the baby’s heart rhythm normalized completely within 72 hours.

The infant is now healthy and has been discharged from the hospital, a hospital Spokesman said.

Dr. Prerna Bhat said that advances in fetal cardiology have made it possible to diagnose and treat several serious cardiac rhythm disorders during pregnancy itself, significantly improving outcomes for affected babies. She added that successful management of such complex cases at an early stage of pregnancy is possible only at a limited number of specialized centers across the country.

She credited the achievement to a multidisciplinary team approach, highlighting the crucial contributions of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neonatology.

Mahatma Gandhi Hospital is among the leading centers in North India providing comprehensive fetal and pediatric cardiology services. The institution offers advanced diagnosis and treatment for congenital heart diseases and fetal cardiac disorders, helping ensure healthier outcomes for newborns, a spokesman said.