Mangaluru: In a remarkable feat of medical expertise, a team of doctors, spearheaded by Dr. Sameena Haroon, Chief Physician of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at KMC Hospital in Mangalore, successfully performed a challenging delivery procedure, ultimately saving the lives of both mother and child.

The delivery, which employed the innovative "Intrauterine Transfusion" system, proved critical in addressing complications arising from blood group-related issues.

The patient, a 35-year-old woman from Pune, was admitted to KMC Hospital for her third delivery due to complications stemming from blood group incompatibility. With the timely intervention and meticulous care provided by the medical team, she was safely discharged from the hospital, marking a triumph over adversity.

Blood group incompatibility between parents, particularly when one is Rh-positive and the other is Rh-negative, often leads to complications in subsequent pregnancies. These complications arise from the development of antibodies in the mother's bloodstream during pregnancy, posing risks to both mother and fetus. Dr. Sameena Haroon emphasized the impact of such blood group disparities on maternal and fetal health.

The patient's medical history revealed a prior normal delivery four years ago, followed by complications during her second delivery, which tragically resulted in the demise of the infant within a year due to intracranial hemorrhage. Subsequent pregnancies posed heightened risks, necessitating vigilant monitoring and specialized care.

During the current pregnancy, complications emerged at the five-month mark, prompting intensive monitoring. At 30 weeks gestation, an Indirect Coombs Test (ICT) returned positive, indicating depleted iron levels in the blood—a critical concern necessitating immediate intervention to safeguard the fetus. Premature delivery posed risks, including jaundice and intracranial bleeding, underscoring the importance of delaying delivery until the optimal timeframe.

In response to the precarious situation, the medical team executed a challenging intrauterine transfusion procedure to replenish the fetus's hemoglobin levels, thereby mitigating the risk of preterm birth. After two subsequent weeks, delivery at 35 weeks gestation alleviated concerns surrounding low hemoglobin levels in the infant, ensuring a safe outcome for both mother and child.

Dr. Sameena added that the baby was kept under observation and monitoring in NICU for over a week post-delivery where the child received further transfusions before being discharged subsequently.

Dr. Sameena Haroon expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of her colleagues, including Dr. Shami Shastri, Dr. Pundalik Baliga, and Dr Mario J Bukelo, whose expertise and teamwork were instrumental in achieving a successful delivery. Despite the complexities posed by the patient's history of fetal loss, the utilization of modern medical advancements and the dedication of the medical team culminated in a positive outcome, with both mother and child discharged from the hospital in good health.

What is intrauterine blood transfusion?

Intrauterine blood transfusion is a complex medical procedure performed during pregnancy to address severe fetal anemia. Through the procedure, the baby in mother's womb is transfused blood.

Before the procedure, the mother undergoes thorough assessments, including ultrasound scans and blood tests. Continuous ultrasound guidance is used throughout the procedure to visualize the fetus, placenta, and the specific blood vessels involved. A thin, specialized needle is carefully inserted through the mother's abdomen and into the amniotic sac, guided by real-time ultrasound imaging. The goal is to reach the umbilical vein of the fetus.

Once the needle is correctly positioned, compatible blood is slowly transfused into the fetus through the umbilical vein. The amount of blood transfused is carefully controlled to avoid overloading the fetal circulation.

This successful delivery at KMC Hospital in Mangalore also marks a significant milestone in medical advancement within the region. The utilization of the "Intrauterine Transfusion" system, under the adept supervision of Dr. Sameena Haroon, signifies one of the pioneering instances of this rare procedure in Mangalore. Dr. Sameena's leadership and expertise, coupled with the collaborative efforts of her medical team, have not only facilitated a positive outcome for the patient and her child but have also expanded the scope of obstetric care in the region.

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Dehradun (PTI): The firefighting operation in Uttarakhand's forests with the help of an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter continued for the second day on Sunday with the blaze brought to control in several areas, officials said.

Efforts have also intensified to extinguish the raging forest fires in the state, especially in the worst-affected areas of Nainital, Haldwani and Ramnagar forest divisions, forest officials here said on Sunday.

The forest fires are gradually being controlled with the flames already doused in many areas. The fires in Marora and Khanana civil areas in Maniknath range of the Narendranagar forest division have been completely extinguished, they said.

The forest blaze in Nainital and adjoining areas is gradually being brought under control after the deployment of an IAF helicopter for the firefighting operations on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said after reviewing the situation in the Kumaon region on Saturday night.

According to the Indian Air Force, a Mi-17 V5 helicopter has been deployed in Nainital and surrounding areas to douse the flames.

Apart from the IAF helicopter and Army personnel, Prantiya Rakshak Dal volunteers and homeguard personnel have also been roped in to help in the firefighting operations, Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat said.

Additional government vehicles, two each for the three forest divisions, have been provided to rush firefighting teams to the affected areas, he added.

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Help from locals with the involvement of forest panchayat officials is also being taken as they are the first responders to forest fires, Rawat said.

Forest department personnel are going from village to village in the hills to raise awareness about forest fires, Garhwal DFO Anirudh Swapnil told reporters in Pauri.

Loudspeakers are being used to spread the messages. People are being asked to report any forest blaze immediately to the authorities and not to burn garbage in the open or carelessly throw burning cigarette butts or bidis in the forest areas, Swapni said.

People are also being asked to report to the authorities if they catch someone setting a fire in the forests, he said, adding that any person reporting such a violation will be rewarded by the forest department.

Legal action under the Forest Act 1927 will be taken against anyone caught setting fire to the jungles, he added.

Burning forests in order to obtain fresh grass for their cattle is a widely prevalent practice in the hills of Uttarakhand.

The chief minister has cancelled the leaves of forest department officials until the fire situation is completely brought under control.

Leave applications of forest department personnel will be considered only in case of medical emergencies, Dhami said.

Forest officials said the IAF helicopter collected water from the Naini and Bhimtal lakes in a Bambi bucket and poured it over the burning forests of the Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh and Mukteshwar areas.

The bucket can hold up to 5,000 litres of water at a time.

As many as 31 fresh incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state on Friday, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land, according to officials.

The fire that broke out in the forest near Nainital took a horrific form on Friday, posing a threat to the residents of High Court Colony. It also affected traffic movement in the area.