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Talk to Gynecologist on HLHS ( Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome)

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Asking For Self, Female 24, karachi

Please ask a pediatric cardiologist that my wife in her 23rd week has been diagnosed with a serious Anomaly as per the Fetal Echo Report. Attached is Report. The Aga Khan Hospitals karachi's Pediatric Cardiologist said that it is called Hypoplastic left ventricle problem a.k.a HLHS and it is not treatable in Pakistan. Therefore we will have to abort the baby. Can you please get us some second opinions on this. Any doctor who has conducted or conducts the 3 surgeries to manage HLHS issue. Thanks Saad ( to be Father)

General Practitioner in Lahore - Dr. Asima Fazal

Dr. Asima Fazal - General Practitioner

MBBS, ECFMG | Lahore

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1 Positive Reviews

I am very sorry to know that this problem has come on the anomaly scan. Unfortunately Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a condition which has a poor prognosis. Even after surgery many babies don't survive because recovery from surgery at such a young age is difficult. Also in gynecology practice Hypoplastic heart syndrome is a condition in the baby which allows termination both on medical and Islamic basis because of very poor prognosis and low survival rate. I pray that you stay strong and get over this difficult time. May Allah reward you for the patience.

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Post Owner


May Allah bless you and other doctors who have assisted.

I have consulted 3 Scholars in karachi and all have same opinion that do not terminate and take it till 9 months full term labor as after 4th Month of pregnancy, termination is not allowed.

You said it is allowed on islamic grounds. I would request you to shed some light.
plus because of HLHS, breech baby and low placenta, how much life of the mother is at risk ?

I am gathering opinions for it to be a good case study for others who may face a similar problem in future

6 years ago

General Practitioner in Lahore - Dr. Asima Fazal
Dr. Asima Fazal - General Practitioner

MBBS, ECFMG | Lahore | Book Appointment

review-stars 1 Positive Reviews

I can totally understand your concern. regarding my answer i did search online about the islamic view for terminating a viable pregnancy in case of abnormalities found in a fetus. I found out that there has been a research done in Saudi and a list of anomalies are given in which terminating is allowed by Islamic scholars and hypoplastic left heart syndrome is included in the list. .

Here is the list and link to the website:

Widely quoted is a resolution of the Islamic jurisprudence council of Mekkah (the Islamic World League) passing a Fatwa in its 12th session held in February 1990. This allowed abortion if the fetus was: grossly malformed with untreatable severe condition (Table 1) proved by medical investigations and decided upon by a committee formed by competent trustworthy physicians, and provided that abortion is requested by the parents and the fetus is less than 120 days (19 weeks of gestation) computed from moment of conception.

• Severe hypoplastic left heart syndrome
• Pentalogy of Cantrell
• Osteogenesisimperfecta type II
• Lethal form of hypophosphatasia
• Thanatotrophic dwarfism
• Phocomelia
• Severe Asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy
• Anencephaly
• Severe hydrocephalus
• Severe encephalocele
• Bilateral renal agenesis (Potter’s syndrome)
• Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (infantile type)
• Trisomy 13
• Trisomy 18
Table 1: Lethal fetal anomalies

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/an-islamic-legal-perspective-on-the-status-of-the-malformed-fetus-and-the-previable-infant-2165-7386.042-32591427, .php?aid=25812

Here the issue is that the fetus should be less than 19 weeks which is not in your case so you should still take time to think and discuss with scholars

6 years ago

Member of Marham-Forum

Dear I can understand what you and your family going through, I am not fetal maternal medicine doctor or pediatric cardiologist. But I can give you the pic here in USA. Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas are doing some research called interventional ntrauterine cardiac surgery. In which they did few, they do multiple intrauterine surgeries depending on anomaly. I met with the parents who left their jobs and dedicated for their new born. As they need multiple surgeries after delivery. If you ask me the success rate, than I am not sure, I was not directly involved in the research or any procedure. Hope this explanation help you in your decision. All the best.

Member of Marham-Forum

I am sorry for u both.Seen the report n yes the doctors are right.It is
better to terminate the pregnancy now,then to wait till the baby is
born.You both can have more normal babies but in my humble opinion dont
take any risks for this baby.You can even visit Dr.Najma Patel in NICVD or
call me we can talk 042-32591427,

Member

Post Owner


Just gathering expert opinions to take the decision and thanks a lot for your guidance, May Allah keep you blessed and shining.!

Scholars say that you cannot terminate after 4 months unless situation is so grave that mother is at high risk and you choose lesser of the two evils i.e. save the mother n terminate the child.
complications in this case are low placenta, Hypoplastic HLHS diagnosed in fetal echo plus baby is breech, what if we take it to full 9 months, how much risky it is and what risks are involved. Because my wife n even myself we really dont want to terminate/kill a breathing soul unless an extreme last resort case.

6 years ago

Member of Marham-Forum

I review your comments today sir( you are father I guess). and salute on you, I was really wishing for this decision. I support your positive thinking in right direction, continue pregnancy and rest is with Allah' Will. I have personal experience but later you regret therapeutic abortion and termination. This pregnancy will not harm mother medically but she needs full emotional support throughout the pregnancy . I hope you both are on the same page and she is well informed. All the best

Member

Post Owner


JazakAllah . Hope we remain steadfast.

May Allah bless everyone for their expert opinions and extended concerns.

6 years ago

Member of Marham-Forum

Salam

My son is suffering with same issu (huls)
First stage and second stage surgery done
Wating for the final
Currently mashallah no issu and not on any medication

First two stage paliltative surgeries are not available in Pakistan
Consult with dr maad ullah afic pindi
Or
Dr Gen Waqar Ahmed
kalsum international hospital isb
Don’t waste time
Time is main factor in this condition
Email me if I can anything
Amid38@hotmail.com
Hamid

Member of Marham-Forum

Salam

My son is suffering with same issu (huls)
First stage and second stage surgery done
Wating for the final
Currently mashallah no issu and not on any medication

First two stage paliltative surgeries are not available in Pakistan
Consult with dr maad ullah afic pindi
Or
Dr Gen Waqar Ahmed
kalsum international hospital isb
Don’t waste time
Time is main factor in this condition
Email me if I can anything
Amid38@hotmail.com
Hamid

Member of Marham-Forum

Hlhs

Member of Marham-Forum

Any one need any kind of information about the hypo plastic left heart syndrome

There is three hospitals in the world
1 Birmingham children hospital
2 grand aurmond street hospital London
3 one is in Philadelphia usa

Need three surgeries
1 24 hours after birth survival rate 30%
2 At the age of 6 month 50%
3 4 to 6 years of the age 70%

These survival rates are in Birmingham children hospital
I know it is impossible to reach there in time
But I reached with the will of allah

Member of Marham-Forum

I m going through the same phase having pregnancy of 30 weeks and came to know that my baby has hlhs doc told me to either terminate or carry on its up to your will because they have no treatment in pakistan. I want to know the survival of baby with out any surgery because i dont want to terminate my baby

Member of Marham-Forum

Sad to hear.
Can you email me fetal echo report msaadanis@gmail.com

my little one turned out to be a hypoplastic right heart case instead of left heart. Left heart is more severe .

My baby is 45 days now, he has Breathing issues, accerelated heart rate and some other issues.

I believe like other tests in life it is also a v tough test for the parents but termination shouldnt be an option unless mothers life is in danger.

Member of Marham-Forum

Want to know that what was your final decision and what is the condition now... having same problem

Member of Marham-Forum

We were really Blessed by Allah swt.

After repeated pediatric Echo Tests , my son was diagnosed with CCTGA , HRHS instead of HLHS .

At the age of 11 months, we finally decided to visit Dr Rajesh Sharma at Jaypee Hospital, Noida city, near Delhi in India.

Dr Rajesh ( cardiac surgeon) took 1 week to make up his mind and told us that we were v late to visit India , now there is high risk surgery possible i.e. double switch operation . It was a v difficult decision for us Parents because my child had v low symptoms of Cardiac problems except that he was not picking up weight n used to breathe fast,rest he was always a cheerful and playful child.

After extensive consultation with family members and doctors, we took the risk of surgery because without surgery such patients slowly n gradually are on their way to a slow n painful death. The later the surgery , the higher the risk, infact there are times patients get inoperable because of delay in surgery.

Alhamdolillah, surgery went well, it took us a total of 1 month in India and Now my Son MashAllah is doing very good.

Would like to mention that Dr Rajesh Sharma in India is a wonderful human and a passionate talented surgeon, unlike our Hospitals and some of our Surgeon Doctors, this Doctor is not a fleece, he is not greedy for money. He is v emapthic and I have heard that for many patients , he had paid from his own pocket to hospital to discharge patients. Maybe Thats why Allah has blessed this Doctor with such great results and success in this World

Also Overall it was cost effective as compared to Aga Khan Hospital .

I would highly recommend all complex CHD patients to go to India for their surgeries

Member

Member


Can you tell the contact details of doctor in India. Facing the same problem and my daughter is already one month

4 years ago

Member

Post Owner


rsharmacvs@hotmail.com

Dr Rajesh Sharma's email address

4 years ago

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