Micro Coil Embolization Therapy Saves Fetus With Placental Tumor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Medical team at KIMSHEALTH saved a 26-week-old fetus with a tumor in the placenta through the ‘Micro coil embolization therapy’. A 30-year-old patient from Tamil Nadu was referred to the High-Risk Pregnancy & Fetal Medicine department at KIMSHEALTH diagnosed with ‘Chorioangioma’, a tumor that develops in the placenta during pregnancy. A detailed examination done on the patient revealed a 6-centimeter placental tumor called Giant Chorioangioma, with evidence of fetal anemia. The umbilical cord of the baby was lying close to the tumor making it riskier to perform the usual method of Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA).

Left with no other option, Dr. Vidyalekshmy R, Senior Consultant and Coordinator, Department of High-Risk Pregnancy & Fetal Medicine, and Dr. Brinda Sabu, Consultant, High-Risk Pregnancy and Fetal Medicine teamed up with Dr. Rafeekha P, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Manish Kumar Yadav, Consultant, Department of Interventional Radiology and Imaging and Dr. Sahil, Consultant, Department of Anesthesia, proceeded to cut off the blood supply to the tumor using a minimally invasive technique, without harming the mother and her baby.

‘Micro coil embolization’ is a complex procedure that shuts off the blood flow into the Chorioangioma by packing it tightly using detachable fibered coils which were carefully inserted through a catheter using ultrasound guidance. With the tumor sealed off, the patient continued her pregnancy and delivered the healthy baby full-term.

Short hospital stay, quick recovery, no major anesthesia, and reduced cost are the benefits of this minimally invasive technique which comes under fetal therapy. The ‘Micro coil embolization therapy’ technique, which has only been employed in less than 5 cases worldwide, has been introduced in KIMSHEALTH, Kerala for the first time. “We are immensely proud that we were able to successfully execute such a rare procedure, ending in a healthy mother and baby outcome” said Dr. Vidyalekshmy R.