Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Delhi Hospital Gives New Life to 5-Day-Old Boy With Rare Brain Condition

In a rare medical miracle, a team of doctors in New Delhi successfully treated a five-day-old baby diagnosed with <span>congenital hydrocephalus</span> -- a rare neurological condition caused by the abnormal accumulation of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the <span>brain</span>.

While CSF acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord, as well as provides essential immunological protection, when in excess, it can increase pressure, cause tissue damage and turn fatal if untreated.

The baby boy, born to a family from Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, was born with an enlarged head that raised the potential for neurological damage. 

However, as the doctors at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, had detected the condition during the last trimester of the <span>pregnancy</span>, they initiated the treatment soon after the baby was born.

“The biggest advantage was the early diagnosis during pregnancy, which allowed us to plan the surgery well in advance,” said Dr. Anurag Saxena, Cluster Head, <span>Neurosurgery</span>, at HCMCT Manipal Hospital.

<h2>How Did The Doctors Save His Life?</h2>

The 34-year-old expectant mother, also from Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, underwent a fetal <span>MRI</span> to help doctors assess the extent of the condition while she was still pregnant. 

Once born, the baby boy underwent a surgical procedure that drained the excess fluid from his brain. 

The highly delicate neurosurgical procedure involved the placement of a programmable ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, which helped drain excess fluid from the brain and relieve intracranial pressure. 

Explaining the intricacies involved in the surgery of <span>newborn</span>s, Dr. Saxena said: "Performing neurosurgery in a newborn is always challenging due to the delicate anatomy, very low circulating blood volume, risks of hypothermia, and the complexities of anesthesia. However, timely intervention and a multidisciplinary team helped us achieve a positive outcome." 

<h2>What is Congenital Hydrocephalus?</h2>It is a rare condition present at birth, causing the head to enlarge due to excess fluid building up in the brain and increased pressure. 

It affects an estimated 2.2 to 18 per 10,000 live births globally. Its prevalence is much higher (up to 12.3 per 10,000) in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America. 

In India, it has an estimated incidence of roughly 0.2-0.5 per 1,000 live births, though some studies suggest rates as high as 3-4 per 1,000 births. Boys are more susceptible to the condition than girls. 

It can occur due to problems in brain development during pregnancy, genetic factors, or blocked fluid flow, which can further lead to serious <span>brain damage</span> if not treated in time. However, early diagnosis and treatment are key. 

“Congenital hydrocephalus can cause serious and irreversible neurological damage. If left unaddressed, it can lead to severe brain injury, developmental delays, <span>seizures</span>, and may also turn life-threatening,” Dr. Saxena said. 

“Following surgery, the baby showed a smooth and stable recovery in the NICU, with no post-operative complications. Early intervention not only ensured a successful surgical outcome but also significantly reduced the risk of long-term complications,” added Dr. Meenu Grewal, Consultant – Neonatologist at the HCMCT Manipal Hospital.

Health Conditions A-Z

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neurosurgery

newborn

congenital hydrocephalus

brain

brain damage

seizures

brain surgery

rare disease

pregnancy

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In a rare medical miracle, a team of doctors in New Delhi successfully treated a five-day-old baby diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus -- a rare neurological condition caused by the abnormal accumulation of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.While CSF acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord, as well as provides essential immunological protection, when in excess, it can increase pressure, cause tissue damage and turn fatal if untreated. The baby boy, born to a family from Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, was born with an enlarged head that raised the potential for neurological damage. However, as the doctors at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, had detected the condition during the last trimester of the pregnancy, they initiated the treatment soon after the baby was born.“The biggest advantage was the early diagnosis during pregnancy, which allowed us to plan the surgery well in advance,” said Dr. Anurag Saxena, Cluster Head, Neurosurgery, at HCMCT Manipal Hospital.How Did The Doctors Save His Life?The 34-year-old expectant mother, also from Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, underwent a fetal MRI to help doctors assess the extent of the condition while she was still pregnant. Once born, the baby boy underwent a surgical procedure that drained the excess fluid from his brain. The highly delicate neurosurgical procedure involved the placement of a programmable ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, which helped drain excess fluid from the brain and relieve intracranial pressure. Explaining the intricacies involved in the surgery of newborns, Dr. Saxena said: "Performing neurosurgery in a newborn is always challenging due to the delicate anatomy, very low circulating blood volume, risks of hypothermia, and the complexities of anesthesia. However, timely intervention and a multidisciplinary team helped us achieve a positive outcome." What is Congenital Hydrocephalus?It is a rare condition present at birth, causing the head to enlarge due to excess fluid building up in the brain and increased pressure. It affects an estimated 2.2 to 18 per 10,000 live births globally. Its prevalence is much higher (up to 12.3 per 10,000) in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America. In India, it has an estimated incidence of roughly 0.2-0.5 per 1,000 live births, though some studies suggest rates as high as 3-4 per 1,000 births. Boys are more susceptible to the condition than girls. It can occur due to problems in brain development during pregnancy, genetic factors, or blocked fluid flow, which can further lead to serious brain damage if not treated in time. However, early diagnosis and treatment are key. “Congenital hydrocephalus can cause serious and irreversible neurological damage. If left unaddressed, it can lead to severe brain injury, developmental delays, seizures, and may also turn life-threatening,” Dr. Saxena said.  “Following surgery, the baby showed a smooth and stable recovery in the NICU, with no post-operative complications. Early intervention not only ensured a successful surgical outcome but also significantly reduced the risk of long-term complications,” added Dr. Meenu Grewal, Consultant – Neonatologist at the HCMCT Manipal Hospital.