Guayaquil, February 17, 2023
“We found out that my daughter had spina bifida and hydrocephalus when my wife had an echo in the sixth month of her pregnancy,” said Winter F., father of a newborn who was operated on February 13, 2023 at the General Hospital Mount Sinai (HGMS), establishment of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
At just 72 hours of life and after medical evaluation, he agreed to a highly complex surgery that allowed the correction of spina bifida myelomeningocele. One of the most serious types because it causes part of the spinal cord to come out along with fluids and tissues, through the back.
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to develop or close properly during pregnancy. The abnormality can be detected before or after birth. Signs of the disease can be seen in the spinal area as a bump, birthmark, or abnormal hairiness.
In this sense, the intervention carried out will prevent the development of serious infections, bladder and bowel dysfunctions and reduce the risk of paralysis in the girl. “Thank God and the doctors, the operation was a success,” said the patient’s father.
This health home assigned a multidisciplinary team made up of neurosurgeons, neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, instrumentalists, respiratory therapists, and support staff.
The HGMS attends an average of 30 patients per month who require treatment or surgical intervention to correct or improve the diagnosis of critical neurological diseases such as: hydrocephalus, spina bifida, brain tumors, peripheral nerve injury, cervical trauma, among others.
In the same way, once the minor recovers, she will be operated on again, this time due to hydrocephalus, so it is necessary to place a valve to help drain excess fluid from her brain.
#JuntosPorLaSalud