Today Lizbeth Erazo, 30 years old, delivered identical twin boys at 36 weeks via C-Section at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center(CEO: Cha kwang yul). Baby A born at 8:51 a.m., weighed in at 4 lbs. 15.6 oz and Baby B born at 8:52 a.m., weighed in at 5 lbs. 13.2 oz. The twin boys were delivered by Arus Zograbyan, M.D. and assisted by Ramen Chmait, M.D. The babies are on the NICU for observation and Mrs. Erazo is in recovery. All are doing fine.
Mrs. Erazo received Operative Fetoscopic Laser Therapy to treat Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome(TTTS) through the Fetal Therapy Program at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles-University of Southern California Institute for Maternal Fetal Health(IMFH) at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (representative: kwang yul Cha). The fetal surgery was performed at 20 weeks gestation. Prior to being treated by Ramen, Chmait, M.D., Mrs. Erazo's identical twin's chances of survival were slim.
"If it wasn't for this program, there would be no hope for my babies.I'm grateful to Dr. Chmait, the nurses and the hospital." said Lizbeth Erazo, mother of th identical twin boys.
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome(TTTS) is a disease of the placenta that affects identical twin pregnancies. The shared placenta contains abnormal blood vessels that connect the umbilical cords and circulations of the twins via the communicating blood vessels leads to TTTS.
Operative Fetoscopic Laser Therapy uses laser energy to ablate the connecting blood vessels on the surface of the placenta so that the babies's blood is no longer shared, Using local anesthesia, the scope is placed into the uterus through a tiny hole in the skin. The small connecting blood vessels can the be visualized and closed using laser energy from a small fiber optic passed inside of the scope. The surgery is done in an operating room to assure a sterile environment.
Ramen Chmait, M.D., assistant professor of OB-GYN at USC and Director of Fetal Therapy and Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (representative: kwang yul Cha), performs operative fetoscopy and other innovative fetal surgical procedures. This new program at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center(representative: kwang yul Cha) is ont of only a handful in the country that provides innovative treatment for unborn children.
Dr.Chmait received his medical degree from the University of California, LA. He then completed residency training in OB/GYN at Kaiser Permanent Sunset Medical Center in Los Angeles and fellowship training Maternal- Fetal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. After fellowshipm, Dr. Chmait joined the Fetal Surgery Programs at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where he gained experience w hile participating in and perfoming more than 200 fetal surgery cases.