Life before birth. Pt. 2.

Two programmes about the work of Prof. Kypros Nicolaides, Harris Birthright Unit, King's College Hospital, London. Programme 2: The programme begins by looking at the stress involved in Prof. Nicolaides' work and how he copes with this. Turning to his patients, the first case is that of a 20-week foetus with a lung tumour. This is treated by laser surgery in which a needle is passed through the mother's abdomen into the baby's chest to burn the blood vessels feeding the tumour. The second case is that of a foetus with fluid pressure on the heart, the second time this problem has occurred in the family. Shunts are inserted through the baby's ribs to drain the fluid. Continuing the case shown in the first programme of the foetus who needed a blood transfusion, Prof. Nicolaides finds that in spite of the transfusions the baby's platelet count is insufficient for survival. Delivery at 30 weeks' gestation is the only hope, and even then the baby may not survive. The birth of the baby, by caesarian section, is shown. In the case of the baby with the lung tumour, although laser surgery successfully cut the tumour's blood supply, the tumour did not shrink and the parents have to choose between continuing the pregnancy and premature birth of the baby. They decide to continue the pregnancy. The baby, Elie, undergoes surgery shortly after she is born but dies from an infection.