State-of-the-art technology for foetal development

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

No more tears, pregnancy is not such a daunting experience after all. Nine months of pre-natal care does cause a degree of anxiety but there is good news.

De Soysa Maternity Hospital is now fully equipped with a Cardiac Power Droppler to detect pre-natal diagnosis and fetal abnormalities due to genetic or chromosomal problems, according to Dr. Dr. Hemantha Dodampahala, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Colombo.

This is an asset to a government hospital to improve maternal well-being and foetal health of thousands of patients who visit the hospital daily.

Miscarriages are common occurrences today. It is due to chromosomal problems. If a woman has more than three consecutive miscarriages the reason could be detected or if there are structural abnormalities due to viral infections during the pre-natal period it could be detected with this life-saving device, he explained.

His advise to all pregnant mothers was to take sufficient folic acid. The intake of folic acid reduces the incidence of neural tube defects. The device can give the accurate weight, position, sex and show the face of the baby at five months.

Viral infections affect all the developing organs and most injurious to the child during the first three months of the pregnancy. If encountered with a viral infection the fetus will face growth restrictions, foetal abnormalities and even death some times. But, unfortunately patients may often not know that they are affected by a viral infection, Rubella being the commonest of them.

The Rubella vaccination should be given to all young people before marriage. Pregnant school teachers are the worst affected as they are much exposed to viral infections he went on to explain.

With the advantages and marked improvements in the technology and equipment, the use of ultrasound in obstetric practice has grown rapidly.

This procedure is available in Sri Lanka too and because of its usefulness in assessing structural anomalies, multiple pregnancy, foetal size and gestational age, many practitioners have begun to advocate its routine use as a screening device in pregnancies.

However, even if foetal abnormalities are identified there is no legal provision for termination in Sri Lanka but detection with the help of the Cardiac Power Droppler will help reduce the complications which might otherwise occur.

The contributions of radiologists, as well as of obstetrician - gynaecologists, to the improvement of maternal well-being and foetal health have been recognized as a key component in all countries around the world.

The World Health Organization has placed the importance of US second only to general x-ray imaging in helping to improve health care and the quality of life throughout the world. Radiologists in the past and present have played important roles in the development and evaluation of new US technology, which has led to improved diagnoses in the evaluation of the developing fetus.

With these advantages and marked improvements in the technology and equipment, the use of ultrasound in obstetric practice has grown rapidly. The procedure is available in nearly all hospitals, and many physicians have acquired equipment for use in their offices. Further, because of the absence of clinically perceived risk of ultrasound and its usefulness in assessing structural anomalies, multiple pregnancy, and foetal size and gestational age, many practitioners have begun to advocate its routine use as a screening device in all pregnancies.

De Soysa Nursing Home has a long history and today is well-equipped with state-of-the-art technology to meet gynaecological necessities.

The hospital has to its credit the first caesarean delivery to be performed in Sri Lanka which was done in 1905 and in 1907, the first organised operating theatre is said to have come into being. During Dr. Sinnathamby's term of office which lasted twenty years, he was instrumental in establishing the De Soysa lying-in-Home as the premier training institute in midwifery.

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