'Miracle' baby saved by blood transfusion while still in womb

A BABY has become the youngest in the UK to have a lifesaving blood transfusion while still in the womb.

- By Lucy Laing

At just 16 weeks gestation, Arthur Ransom was the size of an avocado when he suffered heart failure due to a viral infection.

Professor Asma Khalil, who carried out the procedure at London’s St George’s Hospital, told his parents it “would take a miracle” to save his life, before adding: “But I believe in miracles.”

During an hour-long procedure Arthur was put to sleep while in the womb and a needle was carefully inserted into his liver.

In older babies such transfusions are given through the umbilical cord but Arthur was too small for this.

Professor Khalil said: “I told his parents that it would take a miracle and that’s what it turned out to be. I told them not to give up, there was this tiny chance of a miracle and we took it.

“I’ve never carried out this operation on an unborn baby as young as this, and I haven't heard of anyone younger in the UK.”