The Polish specialist in the field of perinatology has 140 operations for heart defects in the womb. Colleagues say that she has entered the heights of medicine - she carries out a complicated procedure on a heart the size of a pentagram. She was appreciated by the parents of the rescued children, now the recognition came from abroad. Prof. Marzena Dębska received an award in the field of therapy of heart defects in fetuses.
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The achievements of the Polish doctor were noticed by world specialists. In Germany, Prof. Marzena Dębska received an award in the field of therapy of heart defects in fetuses.
- The main thing is the cured children, but the second thing, when our work is perceived, - said the award-winning doctor.
Heart the size of a five-petal
What Prof. Dębska undertakes is the heights of medicine. The operated heart of the fetus is the size of a pentagram.
-The heart works all the time, we do not stop it. We anesthetize the child and the mother. We insert ourselves into the chamber, which is contracting all the time, and the valve, which is narrowed, has a diameter of about 2-3 millimeters - explains Prof. Dębska, obstetrician-gynecologist.
The doctor is the only one who specializes in such defects. She has been performing treatments for more than 10 years. Although these are very rare defects, she and her team carried out more than 140 such operations, which places our country in third place in the world in terms of the number and effectiveness of such procedures.
- This is one of the most common causes of death of newborns. This is a very severe defect, which until the 1980s was a defect 100 percent fatal.
Operation in the womb
- This is a miracle, how this heart looked before the operation and what it looks like after - says Małgorzata Kowal, mother of 7-month-old Jasia.
The boy was operated on while still in the womb, at the 26th week of pregnancy. During a prenatal examination, he was found to have a serious heart defect. The operation was performed by Prof. Dębska.
- At the moment, he is practically a healthy child. It is important that the heart works well, that is what we are most happy about — says Małgorzata.
From Vietnam to the rescue
The doctor also saved the life of Zuzi, for whom a defect diagnosed in fetal life was a death sentence. To save their daughter, the parents had to come to Poland from Vietnam, where they live.
- In Vietnam, it is not possible to perform prenatal cardiac procedures - says Piotr Frieske, the girl's father.
Thanks to the operation in the womb, the girl could look forward to the next procedures.
- Zuza has a very good chance at this moment for a two-chambered heart and thus for a happy life - Mr. Piotr happily admits.
