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PITTSBURGH (WTAE / Hearst / CNN) – A delicate operation was carried out in Pittsburgh for the very first time.
Surgery in the uterus has corrected an abnormality of the spine in a fetus. (Source: Source: WTAE / Hearst / CNN)
Allee Mullen, who cares for critically ill boys and girls at the Children's Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was 20 weeks pregnant when doctors diagnosed her with a baby with Spina Bifida.
In utero surgery to repair the baby's spine posed serious risks, especially for the mother.
In January, the pregnant pediatric intensive care nurse was brought into the operating room of UPMC Magee Women's Hospital, becoming the first patient to undergo in vitro fetal surgery to repair the bifida of the spine.
"The diagnosis is devastating," said Dr. Stephen Emery, Magee's fetal medicine specialist.
Dr. Stephanie Green of the Children's Hospital, Pediatric Neurosurgeon, has teamed up for the delicate surgery.
According to them, many factors made Mullen the first ideal candidate, including her health and the location of her baby.
"But I think the main factor for Allee is that she is a nurse at PICU Children's Hospital and caring for these children. She knows what spinal bifida is, "Emery said.
With the bifida of the spine, the baby's spine and spine do not close, exposing it to amniotic fluid and causing serious damage.
According to Greene, studies have shown that fetuses operated in the uterus were better than waiting for corrective surgery after birth.
"It can make the difference between not walking and walking. Half of cases of hydrocephalus or water on the brain requiring surgical treatment, as well as an improvement in the radiographic condition may sometimes result in infant death in these children, she said.
"If we were going to do that, we could do it right here in Pittsburgh," said Mullen.
After considering the risks, Mullen focused on what was best for his baby.
"It was the best decision for us," she said. We talked a lot, a lot of research, doctors and prayers, and our family prayed, did research, etc., and that was really the best decision we could have made.
This trust brought joy. Two months later, Mullen's baby arrived right away.
"When I looked at her toes, she was getting up and flexing her toes, which means that there is a neurological function, which has been a huge relief," Emery said.
"The first thing that came to her mouth was," Her leg hurts "and we were all very excited," said Mullen.
The baby's back was completely healed and the neurological examination looked promising.
"She had a normal movement in her legs, except that she could not point her toes," says Greene. "To be fair, based on the anatomical level, she should not have had movement below her knees, so that's fantastic."
"It was awesome.It was then that Dr. Emery heard from all the people present in the operating room that day that they were part of the company." history and that they were doing it, "said Mullen.
The little girl called Emery Greene, paying tribute to the doctors they trusted.
"It's a real honor. It's a level of gratitude they show for us and that's very deep, "said Emery. You know, they named their daughter after us. "
"It's really emotional. As Dr. Emory said, it's the highest honor I can imagine that someone gives me, "Greene said.
"They have really made a difference in our lives and I'm excited to see how many lives they will make a difference," said Mullen. "I'm really excited, I can not wait to see everything she's going to do and the life she's going to touch."
Copyright 2019 WTAE and Hearst via CNN. All rights reserved.
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