ABU DHABI: Surgeons at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children in Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday that they have saved the life of a 48-hour-old Emirati girl who was born with twisted ovaries.

The baby was bleeding due to large twisted ovarian cysts, the third case of its kind in the world.

The newborn underwent a successful 3-hour laparoscopic surgical operation during which both ovaries were restored to normal. Her bleeding was managed, two cysts removed, and severe adhesions in the intestines were also treated by laparoscopy.

Dr Raja Cingapagu, paediatric surgeon, Danat Al Emarat Hospital, who performed the baby’s successful surgery along with a surgical team of various specialities, said, “The newborn girl was born in the week 35 of pregnancy, and the tests revealed that the baby suffered from ovarian torsion and bleeding due to large ovarian cysts in both ovaries sized over 5cm although the ovary is usually not more than 1 centimetre at this age.”

He further added, that 48 hours after her birth, an urgent surgical operation was decided based on the results of the tests. “We had to perform a laparoscopic surgery, during which the cyst was removed from each ovary and both ovaries were untwisted to their normal position. The bleeding was stopped and the accumulated blood was removed.”

“Such cases are very rare worldwide where both ovaries were twisted simultaneously, and at the same time it is considered life-threatening if not treated in the right time eliminating the possibility of disrupting the functions of the ovaries in future,” Dr Raja said.

Mohammed Hamad Al Hameli, Acting Undersecretary, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi said, “The successful treatment of this rare case and saving the life of this baby girl confirms the level of advancement in Abu Dhabi’s healthcare facilities.

“The newborn was treated in a timely manner by the hospital’s Paediatric Surgery team and was admitted in the hospital’s level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit led by a team of internationally-trained neonatologists,” said Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, CEO & MD of UEMedical.