A Vietnamese baby boy, diagnosed with severe congenital heart abnormalities, recently became the first-ever case in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to undergo foetal cardiac catheterization as a remedial procedure.

The successful intervention took place at Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the infant was discharged last week.

Following more than two weeks of treatment and post-cardiac catheterization care, doctors reported on February 18 that the baby was discharged in significantly improved health conditions compared to other infants with similar serious abnormalities who did not undergo such an interventional surgery.

The boy's abnormalities, characterized by hypoplasia of the right ventricle and the absence of a pulmonary valve opening, were first identified at Da Nang Hospital.

The mother, L., a 26-year-old resident of Da Nang City, underwent an examination for her first pregnancy at the hospital last year, where these congenital heart issues were detected.

L. was subsequently transferred to Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in early November 2023.

Doctors at Tu Du Hospital made the decision to conduct a foetal cardiac catheterization to save the baby boy, as his severe conditions posed a risk of mortality either in the mother's womb or at birth, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper reported, citing medical professionals.  

The interventional surgeon was performed on January 4 by specialists from Tu Du Hospital and Children’s Hospital 1.

L. successfully gave birth to the boy, weighing 2.9kg, on the morning of January 30, at 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Later that day, the newborn was transferred to Children’s Hospital 1 for further care and attention.

While at the pediatric hospital, the baby underwent a pulmonary artery angioplasty once, and notably, there was no need for ductus arteriosus stent placement.

This stands in contrast to other similar cases that did not undergo foetal cardiac catheterization, as highlighted by the medical team.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year festival, February 10, the baby's mother visited the hospital to breastfeed him for the first time.

She stayed at the hospital until her son was discharged five days later.

The complete treatment cost for the baby, estimated at VND100 million (US$4,100), has been covered by health insurance, supplemented by a payment from Children’s Hospital 1.

Doctors mentioned that a follow-up examination for the boy is scheduled a month after discharge.

During these follow-up visits, they will assess his cardiovascular conditions to determine if further care or treatment is necessary.

Dr. Do Nguyen Tin, deputy head of the cardiology department at Children’s Hospital 1, stated that this marks the first cardiac intervention of its kind in Vietnam and Southeast Asia as a whole.

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