Rare baby survives outside womb: Montreal doctor
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 | 10:16 AM ET
CBC News
Related
Video
- Dan Halton reports for CBC TV (Runs: 1:36)
play: RealMedia »
play: RealVideo »
External Links
- Ectopic pregnancy: L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (in French; graphic images)
- L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (in French; graphic images) Ectopic pregnancy: U.S. National Institutes of Health
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
Dionne Grant, 29, and her newborn son should be going home later this week. Although she is camera shy, Grant wanted the world to see her baby. He does not yet have a name.
Dr. Robert Sabbah, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Sacré-Coeur Hospital, said he only discovered the problem after deciding to perform an emergency caesarean section on the Jamaican tourist last week.
"When I opened the cavity I quickly discovered that the uterus was not like it was supposed to be," said Sabbah.
"As soon as I explored the abdominal cavity I noticed there were feet in the cavity just floating around. So as fast as I could I took out the baby."
He said that abdominal ectopic pregnancies occur in one in 10,000 pregnancies. In 99 per cent of the cases, the babies die. There are only a dozen similar cases in the world, according to obstetricians.
Doctors believe the baby survived because the placenta glued itself to the top of the uterus, accessing blood to nourish the baby.
Dr. Robert Sabbah
Sabbah said he's thrilled to have been part of the surgery and even more thrilled that both his patients are doing so well.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Grammys to honour Whitney Houston
- Jennifer Hudson will pay tribute to her idol, Whitney Houston, at Sunday's Grammy Awards, as the annual celebration of the best in music has turned sombre upon news of the singer's death. more »
- Quebec town 'heartbroken' after killing of mother, nieces
- A small Quebec town is in mourning Sunday after a Quebec man was charged with killing his nieces and mother, who were found dead in their family home. more »
- Greek parliament debates over bailout vote amid protests
- Scuffles have erupted outside the Greek parliament as tens of thousands of protesters gather there while lawmakers debate legislation introducing severe austerity measures necessary for a crucial bailout to stave off bankruptcy. more »
- Musicians who died before their time
- The growing list of musicians who have died young. more »
- Pop queen Whitney Houston dies at 48
- Whitney Houston's family 'devastated' by loss
- Carleton University confirms death of student
- Whitney Houston's death sparks chorus of grief
- Quebec man charged with killing mother, 2 nieces
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- Ultimate Tazer Ball combines shock and soccer
- Attawapiskat receives first modular home
- Gadhafi Mexico plot riles SNC-Lavalin, insiders say


