‘One-of-a-kind’ girl born with heart outside chest has pioneering surgery
Vanellope Hope Wilkins made medical history when she was born with her heart outside of her body in 2017.
Described by experts as “one of a kind”, Vanellope had three operations to place her heart back in her chest due to an extremely rare condition called ectopia cordis.
The hospital where she was born – Glenfield Hospital in Leicester – says it knows of no other case in the UK where the baby has survived.
Now seven years old, Vanellope has undergone groundbreaking surgery to reconstruct a protective cage around her heart – using her ribs.
The BBC was given exclusive access into theatre, when the operation took place at the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre, based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, last Wednesday.
Source: BBC | Language: English