On January 6, a groundbreaking medical procedure took place at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York. Megan Wild, 24 weeks into her pregnancy, underwent an EXIT (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment) procedure to save her unborn child, Luciano, who had a severe heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. During the procedure, the baby was partially delivered while still attached to the umbilical cord, allowing doctors to perform open-heart surgery before he was fully born.
Megan Wild and her fiancé learned of their baby's critical condition during her first pregnancy. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart does not form correctly, necessitating multiple surgeries in the early years of life. Complicating matters further, Luciano also had no communication between the right and left sides of his heart.
Despite the fear and uncertainty that accompanied the diagnosis, Wild chose to proceed with the EXIT procedure. This complex and innovative operation allowed Dr. Sameh Said, chief of pediatric heart surgery at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, to perform the necessary surgery while Luciano remained partially inside his mother. The procedure involved using Wild's body as a heart and lung machine for her baby, ensuring he received oxygenated blood throughout the operation.
"When you're pregnant, it's supposed to be like a really exciting time, and I felt like all that excitement turned to fear," Wild explained.
The success of the surgery marked a significant medical milestone and has potential implications for other babies with similar congenital heart problems. Dr. Said expressed optimism about the procedure's impact on future cases.
"It was successful, and also should open the pathway for other babies who have similar problems," Dr. Said noted.
Six weeks after his birth, baby Luciano is recovering well, much to the relief and gratitude of his mother.
"I'm very thankful for the doctors and for everybody here [at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital], that they saved him and they helped him come into this world," Wild expressed.
The EXIT procedure represents a new frontier in pediatric cardiac surgery, offering hope to families facing similar diagnoses. While the journey was fraught with uncertainty, Megan Wild's decision has paved the way for potential advancements in treating complex congenital heart defects in newborns.
"I was really scared of what could happen because it's a lot of what ifs, and you don't know until the baby is there," Wild shared.
