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Should A Pregnancy With Foetus' Heart Outside The Body Be Terminated?

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Posted on Wed, 31 Aug 2016
Question: My daughter is approx 22 weeks pregnant and just discovered the fetus heart is outside of the body....how rare is this and what is birth termination at this point?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Rare anomaly, but needs termination.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Dr Purushottam Neurgaonkar here. I have gone through your question, and I think I have understood your concern. I will suggest you the best possible treatment options.

1 ) First of all do not panic .

2 ) It is really sad to know about the recently detected anomaly in the baby's heart.

3 ) As such it is a rarely seen anomaly , as per your description if baby's heart is lying outside the body or rib cage , it is advisable to terminate the pregnancy.

4 ) But a word of caution, please do follow the laws of the land where you are staying about medical termination of pregnancy.

5 ) As such baby will survive inside the womb till term but probably not a healthy one. So with due respect to your daughter's emotions, please get he counselling done before taking the decision to terminate.

I hope this answer helps you.
Thanks.
Dr.
Purushottam
Neurgaonkar.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar (9 hours later)
Thank you. Would it be common to abort now and how or make her go full term and deliver? Also, is it common for the doctor to suggest counseling and help choose a counselor? When you use the term "laws of the land", would you be able to tell me what Wisconsin requires? Thank you Dr. XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
counsel with gynec. pediatrician.

Detailed Answer:
Hi there,

Thanks for appreciating the answer and reverting back.

If termination of pregnancy is considered then it is just like inducing labour pains with injection of oxytocin or some prostaglandin group of medicines. As preferred by treating doctor. This is like XXXXXXX labour process only.

If you are considering to take the pregnancy to term and then deliver viability or survival ability of the baby should be discussed before hand with the attending pediatrician who looks after the baby after birth.
The list of
If USG shows that heart is out of rib cage , then risk of injury to the organ (heart ) while delivering the baby is there ,


By using the term - follow the laws of the land where you are staying - I want to tell you that medical termination of pregnancy has different upper limits in terms of weeks of pregnancy, like up to 20 weeks , or 24 or 28 weeks .

Plesse get counselled about termination, or carrying it to term, or post delivery treatment options for the baby.

I hope this answer helps you.

Please do not panic or do not take decisions not advised by medical professionals.

Thanks.
Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
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Answered by
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Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar

OBGYN

Practicing since :1992

Answered : 2236 Questions

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Should A Pregnancy With Foetus' Heart Outside The Body Be Terminated?

Brief Answer: Rare anomaly, but needs termination. Detailed Answer: Hi, Dr Purushottam Neurgaonkar here. I have gone through your question, and I think I have understood your concern. I will suggest you the best possible treatment options. 1 ) First of all do not panic . 2 ) It is really sad to know about the recently detected anomaly in the baby's heart. 3 ) As such it is a rarely seen anomaly , as per your description if baby's heart is lying outside the body or rib cage , it is advisable to terminate the pregnancy. 4 ) But a word of caution, please do follow the laws of the land where you are staying about medical termination of pregnancy. 5 ) As such baby will survive inside the womb till term but probably not a healthy one. So with due respect to your daughter's emotions, please get he counselling done before taking the decision to terminate. I hope this answer helps you. Thanks. Dr. Purushottam Neurgaonkar.