Wilford Hall doctors perform lifesaving procedure on newborn

Air Force Link ^ | Senior Airman Josie Kemp, USAF

[SandRat]

3/12/2009 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- A medical team at Wilford Hall Medical Center here recently performed a lifesaving procedure on a newborn infant that is unique to Air Force medicine.

Alexander Gardner, son of Natascha Gardner and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gardner of the 23rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, was born Feb. 27 with a large tumor growing on his neck under his chin.

Doctors at Fort Hood, Texas, found the tumor just days before the delivery and transported the family to Wilford Hall for treatment. This large tumor was blocking the baby's airway causing the amniotic fluid to increase dramatically and causing preterm labor and urgent evaluation.

"With compression on the airway, the baby would have survived only for a short time, likely minutes, after birth without treatment," said Maj. (Dr.) Barton Staat, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the 59th Maternal Child Care Squadron, who was a member of the medical team.

To prevent a life-threatening situation, a multispecialty care conference was held to discuss and coordinate the treatment. The medical staff performed an ex-utero intrapartum treatment, or EXIT procedure, during the baby's birth.

During the EXIT procedure, the mother was placed under deep general anesthesia by Maj. (Dr.) Christopher Nagy of the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron, which allowed the uterus to relax and the obstetrician to deliver the baby partially by Caesarean section.

Only the infant's head and neck were delivered while the remainder of the infant was left inside the uterus. Once the head and neck were delivered, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Mark Boston, a pediatric otolaryngology specialist in the 59th Surgical Specialties Squadron, intubated the infant while the baby was receiving blood flow and oxygen through the placenta.

Thirty-five minutes after the head was delivered and his airway was secured, the remainder of the infant was delivered and the umbilical cord was clamped and cut. The infant was then cared for in the Wilford Hall Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jay Kerecman of the 59th Maternal Child Care Squadron.

After the birth, the tumor was removed by Colonel Boston and Alexander is now recovering in the Wilford Hall Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The EXIT is a relatively new procedure, typically performed only for rare structural problems in a baby, when providing a treatment during the first few minutes of life is critical.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time this procedure has been done at Wilford Hall, and only performed at a few larger civilian hospitals," Major Staat said. "We are probably the only Air Force hospital capable of carrying out this procedure due to the multispecialty requirements involved. It requires an experienced maternal-fetal medicine specialist, anesthesiologist, neonatologist and pediatric surgery specialist all working together. This success highlights the excellent care we provide to our mothers and babies here."

[SandRat]

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gardner and his wife, Natascha, visit their newborn son, Alexander, March 11 in the Wilford Hall Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The baby underwent a rare ex-utero intrapartum treatment, or EXIT, procedure where he was partially delivered and intubated to provide access to his airway which was blocked by a large tumor. Sergeant Gardner is assigned to the assigned to 23rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Josie Kemp)

[Gene Eric]

Prayers for the family. This is tough stuff to deal with.

[nbhunt]

I’ve read where they have removed a fetus for spina bifita surgery then placed it back in the womb and waited for delivery. Supposedly, this help tremendously in the lasting effects of the spinal disorder. The baby did walk with help they said.

they are all shear miracles, by the grace of God.

[ishabibble]

Best wishes to the Gardners and Baby Alexander.

[Wisconsinlady]

God Bless this family. While other infants not so lucky and unloved will be used for body parts. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

[steveo]

Some of the best doctors in the world.

[chronicles]

Our oldest son was delivered at “Big Willy” 46 yrs ago next month. It’s good to see they are still providing superior care for babies!

[armymarinemom]

Awwww. Prayers for the family and baby. Now if this family lives anywhere near my DIL she will spoil them rotten.

[SandRat]

Does she? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Check6]

Big Willy has always been special to me, since I put in some years there. I am sorry to see the pathetic attempt to “militarize” hospital departments by calling them Squadrons, Groups, whatever. Buh Low Nee. Get a life. Find somewhere else to play army please. This is a hospital.

[The Great RJ]

I doubt that under Obama care such treatment would be given as it wouldn’t be cost effective.

[armymarinemom]

Not that I know of. That’s a huge post.

[Guenevere]

Yay God

Yay surgeons!!

I pray total restoration for that child.

[strongbow]

Wilford Hall always brings fond memories to me. “Big Willy” is where I learned surgery and taught it to residents. My fondest memories and best years were spent there. God bless these great docs and the families they help. I make a hell a lot of money now but the best days of my career were down in San Antonio at Wilford Hall when I was just a mere major with a paulty income. Great job and kudos to the boys in blue.

[Bhoy]

In my research of different countries’ infant mortality rates numbers, this child would not have been counted. It would have died & that’s why the numbers look so much better under “socialized medicine.” They just don’t county them.
So much for the statistics about how much better other countries medicine is than ours.

[SandRat]

Propaganda Ministries always lie to praise anything socialized. And if they’re praising anything socialized they’re a Propaganda Ministry.

[Gene Eric]

>> they are all shear miracles, by the grace of God.

And a willing mom. That’s incredible surgery especially with the risk of infections for both the baby and the mother.