Vietnamese Doctors Perform Rare In-Womb Heart Surgery to Save Unborn Baby

A team of doctors in Vietnam has successfully carried out a rare in-womb heart surgery on an unborn baby. The operation took place at Từ Dũ Hospital and lasted just 80 minutes—one of the fastest procedures of its kind there. Without urgent treatment, the baby faced a 40% chance of not surviving until birth.

The baby was diagnosed with a severe narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which restricted blood flow from the heart to the lungs. Doctors warned that, if left untreated, the condition would likely be fatal before delivery. Even if the baby survived birth, a heart transplant would have been the only long-term solution.

Specialists from Từ Dũ Hospital and Children's Hospital No 1 worked together on the delicate procedure. Using a fine needle and a tiny balloon, they carefully widened the blocked valve while the baby was still in the womb. The operation went smoothly, with no complications reported. Within 24 hours, both mother and baby were in stable condition. The successful outcome marks a significant moment for foetal medicine in the region.

The procedure has given the baby a far better chance of survival without needing an immediate transplant. Doctors will continue monitoring the mother and child closely in the coming weeks. This case also highlights the growing expertise in complex prenatal surgeries at Vietnamese hospitals.