In-Womb Baby Transfusion: KNH Achieves Historic Milestone
Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital have effectively transfused a fetus within the womb of its mother.
Local specialists regard the Intrauterine Foetal Transfusion, a delicate procedure, as a milestone in fetal medicine.
The procedure of injecting red blood cells from a donor into a fetus was performed by a team of four specialists.
When a fetus has anemia (a reduced number of red blood cells), intrauterine transfusion may be advised.
They include Rosa Chemwey, Flavia Ogutu, Ikol Adung’o, and interventional radiologist Kunjira Murayi.
Benson Nyankuru and Redempata Mumo, both nurses and Tony Wainaina, a reproductive health clinical officer, assisted them.
The physician inserts a needle into the mother’s abdomen and then into the umbilical vein or the fetus’ abdomen, using ultrasound to determine the position of the fetus and placenta.
Through the needle, red blood cells compatible with the embryo’s blood type are injected into the fetus.
It may be necessary to continue fetal transfusions every few weeks until the fetus is ready to be born.
Antibiotics, local anesthesia, and intravenous anesthetic are administered to the mother, which also sedates the fetus.
Additional medication may be administered to the fetus to inhibit movement.
According to Chemwey, only one of the mother’s four pregnancies resulted in a successful delivery.
She stated, “The mother only has one child because the previous two perished from a blood condition known as hemolytic disease of the newborn.”
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Hemolytic disease is a blood disorder caused by incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and child.
“We are extremely committed to ensuring the success of this pregnancy. We anticipate favorable outcomes. This infant is 25 weeks and three days old, said Chemwey.
She stated that the infant had acute anemia due to rhesus alloimmunization.
This is a condition that occurs during pregnancy when maternal red blood cells lacking the rhesus antigen are exposed to rhesus-positive red blood cells via the placenta, activating the maternal immune system.
“Therefore, the mother’s antibodies destroy the baby’s blood, resulting in anemia over time,” she explained.
According to the specialists, the transfusion procedure takes thirty to sixty minutes.
“We transfused 80 to 100 milliliters of compressed red cells. This blood is particularly secure for the baby because it is Onegative Leucoreduced, hemoconcentrated, CMV-negative, and irradiated, she explained.
Evanson Kamuri, chief executive officer of KNH, praised the team for achieving another significant milestone.
“This is fetal medicine and a major institution. We have accomplished yet another milestone in fulfilling our mission as a top referral hospital,” he stated.
“I’d like to thank the team of physicians and their assistants for the excellent work they’ve performed. This proves that we have the finest medical professionals at KNH.”
In-Womb Baby Transfusion: KNH Achieves Historic Milestone
