Cardiovascular, Fetal Care, Pediatric Services

Fetal echocardiograms: Finding more heart defects before birth

In 2011, Norton Children’s Heart Institute identified an area where we could improve the care provided to families in our region. We have been working hard to make things better ever since. We reviewed the records of all babies who had heart surgery at Norton Children’s Hospital. We found that only about one-third of the…

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Cardiovascular, Fetal Care, Pediatric Services

Ebstein anomaly discovered in pregnancy treated with interdisciplinary care

Audrey Sims’ first clue that her twins’ birth would be complicated came at 14 weeks of pregnancy, when a routine ultrasound found that one of her sons, Aiden, had a cystic hygroma, a fluid collection on the neck. Audrey’s OB/GYN at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana, referred Audrey and her husband, Andrew, to Norton…

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Adult Services, Fetal Care, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Pediatric Services

Maternal-fetal medicine physician leads fetal anemia procedures

Intrauterine transfusion is an essential treatment for severe fetal anemia. The procedure is performed between 18 and 35 weeks after fetal ultrasound is suggestive of fetal anemia or hydrops. In a sterile environment, fetal blood is obtained via percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Transfusion is recommended for a fetal hematocrit less than 30 cc, which can…

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