Successful high-risk pregnancy!
Birth of a healthy neonate by a woman with transplanted heart
A message of life and strength was sent today, Holy Monday, by the 38-year-old Zoe from the “REA Obstetric-Gynecological Clinic”.
At 8 am Zoe, who had undergone heart transplantation seven years ago, gave birth to a healthy boy, weighing 2800 gr, by cesarean section performed by the obstetrician-gynecologist Elias Gatos, an expert in cases of high-risk pregnancies.
This brave mother underwent successful heart transplantation in 2004 at the “Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center” by the cardiac surgeon professor Petros Alivizatos, having a history of dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure.
During a press conference held at the “Evangelos Vlassopoulos” amphitheater of the “REA” Obstetric-Gynecological Clinic, the chairman of clinic’s board Efstathios Tsalikis highlighted the importance of this case, at a time that volunteering and organ donation in our country decline. Mr. Tsalikis emphasized that the cooperation between “REA” and Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center is not limited to this specific case.
The obstetrician-gynecologist Elias Gatos underlined the fact that this is a unique case in Greece and one of the rarest cases in medical annals worldwide. This happy mother represents the first case in which the entire procedure (heart transplantation and childbirth) was performed in Greece.
Professor – cardiac surgeon Petros Alivizatos highlighted particularly the cooperation of the “Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center” with the “REA” clinic as well as the obstetrician, sending a message of “teamwork” which produced excellent results. Professor praised this woman’s courage and emphasized that heart transplantations in Greece continue to be successful giving life and quality of life.
The director of the Neonate Intensive Care Unit of “REA”, neonatologist Antonia Charitou, spoke about the excellent health status of the neonate, which is hospitalized in the unit for purely precautionary reasons.
As stressed in the interview, the REA Obstetric Gynecological Clinic was selected by the team of cardiologists and mother’s gynecologist because its equipment and degree of preparation in treating high-risk cases meet all worldwide statutory strict standards.
Happy mother’s husband is constantly by her side. Zoe said that she will speak to the media because she wants to contribute to the development of volunteering and organ donation in our country.
Today’s case is added to that of the first Greek woman, and among the first worldwide, who, following a heart transplantation in Karolinska Hospital of Sweden, managed to have children under the supervision of the Obstetrician Elias Gatos (in 2005), and gives hope to the women who have undergone heart transplantation to become mothers.
