As many as 1,022 intrauterine transfusions have been carried out on 373 foetuses by doctors at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division of AIIMS during a period of 18 years.
Intrauterine transfusion is a procedure in which red blood cells from a donor are injected into a foetus while it is in the uterus. This procedure is performed when a foetus suffers from severe anemia, to ensure that the mother delivers a healthy baby.
According to Dr Dipika Deka, Professor and Unit Head of the Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, the problem is that most of pregnant women with abnormalities in their foetuses are referred to AIIMS at a late stage and many of the abnormalities can be corrected with intrauterine transfusions.
