Al Ain: For Latifa and her husband, bringing their baby home is nothing short of miraculous. Their child, who faced numerous challenges including critical in-utero procedures and major surgery at just six days old, has proven to be a true fighter.
After a 135-day stay in the NICU at Burjeel Medical City (BMC), Abu Dhabi, the baby defied all odds and was discharged to go home with his parents. The baby’s journey, marked by a complex medical path that began even before birth, has been a challenging yet triumphant one for the Emirati couple from Al Ain.
A Difficult Diagnosis
Latifa and her husband were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting their first child after five years of marriage, following a successful IVF procedure. However, their joy turned to concern during a 12-week scan that revealed a diaphragmatic defect causing the baby’s bowel and liver to herniate into the thorax.
“It was difficult to hear that our baby might not survive due to his complex health condition or that the pregnancy might not be completed,” Latifa shared.
Seeking specialized care, they consulted Dr. Mandeep Singh, a consultant in Fetal Maternal Medicine and Obstetrics at the Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine and Therapy Center at BMC.
Realizing that advanced care was available within the UAE, they decided to proceed with the treatment locally. “As the pregnancy advanced, it was clear that the defect was severe, and this had led to both lungs being severely compressed. The chances of the baby surviving with such a serious defect are around 10-15 per cent. Their only hope was to undergo a complex in-utero procedure called FETO (Fetal endotracheal occlusion), where a balloon is placed in the baby’s trachea to encourage lung growth,” explained Dr. Singh.
The multidisciplinary team managing the case included Dr. Iviano Ossuetta, consultant and director of Neonatology; Dr. Mussadaq Inayat, consultant neonatologist; Dr. Ahmed Omran, consultant obstetric anesthesiologist; Dr. Shaikh Irfan Basha, consultant otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery; Dr. Rajasekhar Cingapagu, specialist in pediatric surgery; and Dr. Kesava Ramakrishnan, consultant in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Overcoming Challenges
At 27 weeks gestation, the FETO procedure was successfully performed with the assistance of Dr. Mauricio Herrera, a visiting fetal medicine specialist. However, Latifa soon faced another challenge as she went into preterm labor and began leaking amniotic fluid.
Under constant observation, Latifa remained in the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy. At 34 weeks, when she went into labor, the medical team performed an EXIT (Ex-utero intrapartum treatment) procedure. This specialized operation allowed the baby to be partially delivered while still attached to the placenta, receiving oxygen from his mother as the medical team stabilized his breathing. Dr. Irfan Basha then punctured the balloon and inserted an endotracheal tube to aid the baby’s breathing before completing the delivery and transferring the baby to the NICU.
At six days old, the baby underwent major surgical repair of the diaphragm by Dr. Rajasekhar.
Seeing her baby in the NICU brought a mix of pain, joy, and fear for Latifa. The couple traveled daily from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi to be by their baby’s side and ensure he received the best care possible.
“It was a challenging time. My husband and family supported me, giving me the confidence that this would pass. The hospital felt like a second family, providing us with compassionate care. I am grateful to the UAE for its advanced healthcare system, which allowed us to stay close to our family and loved ones,” said Latifa.
Getting Ready to Go Home
After four and a half months, the baby was ready to go home. “We are very pleased that the baby’s condition has greatly improved. In the last few months, he has overcome critical health challenges as our entire team worked together to deliver the best care. We are hopeful that we can continue to offer this treatment to any baby in a similar situation,” said Dr. Mandeep.
