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| Glue injections help sick babies | Glue injections help sick babies |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Children suffering from a rare condition which can kill babies within days are being saved - with glue. | Children suffering from a rare condition which can kill babies within days are being saved - with glue. |
| The adhesive is being given injections to combat Vein of Galen malformation, which affects communication between the arteries and veins in their brain. | The adhesive is being given injections to combat Vein of Galen malformation, which affects communication between the arteries and veins in their brain. |
| Dafi Evans, of Talgarreg, Ceredigion, is one of the toddlers treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and his mother called it "truly amazing". | Dafi Evans, of Talgarreg, Ceredigion, is one of the toddlers treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and his mother called it "truly amazing". |
| Dr Stefan Brew has operated on 50 children with Vein of Galen since 2003. | Dr Stefan Brew has operated on 50 children with Vein of Galen since 2003. |
| The condition puts a strain on the heart and babies usually die within three or four days as a result of heart failure or water on the brain. | The condition puts a strain on the heart and babies usually die within three or four days as a result of heart failure or water on the brain. |
| It's been a rollercoaster year but he's well and doing everything that he should Catrin Evans, mother | |
| But by injecting the tissue adhesive Histoacryl through a catheter into the baby's groin, the affected area of the brain is blocked. | But by injecting the tissue adhesive Histoacryl through a catheter into the baby's groin, the affected area of the brain is blocked. |
| Dafi's mother Catrin was heavily pregnant when she and husband Eilir were told their unborn baby had the life-threatening condition. | Dafi's mother Catrin was heavily pregnant when she and husband Eilir were told their unborn baby had the life-threatening condition. |
| "Very lucky" | "Very lucky" |
| But after a "rollercoaster year", 16-month-old Dafi is healthy and as full of energy as any other toddler. | But after a "rollercoaster year", 16-month-old Dafi is healthy and as full of energy as any other toddler. |
| Mrs Evans, 32, said she feels "very lucky" that staff at Bronglais Hosptal in Aberystwyth spotted something was wrong during a routine scan at 36 weeks. | Mrs Evans, 32, said she feels "very lucky" that staff at Bronglais Hosptal in Aberystwyth spotted something was wrong during a routine scan at 36 weeks. |
| The couple was sent to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in central London, where Vein of Galen malformation was diagnosed. | The couple was sent to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in central London, where Vein of Galen malformation was diagnosed. |
| Dafi was delivered by caesarean section and immediately whisked off to GOSH for treatment by Dr Stefan Brew, who has operated on about 50 children with Vein of Galen. | Dafi was delivered by caesarean section and immediately whisked off to GOSH for treatment by Dr Stefan Brew, who has operated on about 50 children with Vein of Galen. |
| The glue treatment was pioneered in France and has been carried out in London since 2003 | The glue treatment was pioneered in France and has been carried out in London since 2003 |
| When Dafi was just a day old, glue was squeezed into the affected part of his brain through a catheter, plugging the leak. | When Dafi was just a day old, glue was squeezed into the affected part of his brain through a catheter, plugging the leak. |
| First birthday | First birthday |
| Dafi improved straight away and was able to go home but a check in Cardiff two months later detected a second leak, so Dr Brew performed the procedure for a second time. | Dafi improved straight away and was able to go home but a check in Cardiff two months later detected a second leak, so Dr Brew performed the procedure for a second time. |
| Dafi had his fifth operation on his first birthday and expects a sixth next month. | Dafi had his fifth operation on his first birthday and expects a sixth next month. |
| "It's been a rollercoaster year but he's well and doing everything that he should; developing as he should," said Mrs Evans. | "It's been a rollercoaster year but he's well and doing everything that he should; developing as he should," said Mrs Evans. |
| "It's great. It's unbelievable. He truly is fantastic, full of energy. He's exactly like his sister." | "It's great. It's unbelievable. He truly is fantastic, full of energy. He's exactly like his sister." |
| Former headteacher Mrs Evans added: "I couldn't believe how simple an operation it looks; it's so non-invasive. | Former headteacher Mrs Evans added: "I couldn't believe how simple an operation it looks; it's so non-invasive. |
| "It's so dangerous but he comes back looking perfect - no scars, just a tiny cut." | "It's so dangerous but he comes back looking perfect - no scars, just a tiny cut." |
| Stressful procedure | Stressful procedure |
| Consultant interventional neuro radiologist Dr Brew described carrying out the highly skilled procedure as "incredibly stressful" but satisfying. | Consultant interventional neuro radiologist Dr Brew described carrying out the highly skilled procedure as "incredibly stressful" but satisfying. |
| "The children go from looking like they were about to die, often overnight, to looking very well," he said. | "The children go from looking like they were about to die, often overnight, to looking very well," he said. |
| About 60% of children treated with the injections go on to live a normal life while about 20% are left with only a mild disability. | About 60% of children treated with the injections go on to live a normal life while about 20% are left with only a mild disability. |
| Ten per cent are left severely disabled and one in 10 children die. | Ten per cent are left severely disabled and one in 10 children die. |
| "No matter how careful you are, there's an element of chance to it," Dr Brew. "What is known is that if you don't treat them, they die." | "No matter how careful you are, there's an element of chance to it," Dr Brew. "What is known is that if you don't treat them, they die." |
| The glue technique was pioneered by Dr Pierre Lasjaunias in France in the 1980s. | The glue technique was pioneered by Dr Pierre Lasjaunias in France in the 1980s. |
| Dr Brew has been performing the glue treatment since 2003. | Dr Brew has been performing the glue treatment since 2003. |
| Mrs Evans added: "The work Dr Brew's done is totally amazing. It's truly amazing." | Mrs Evans added: "The work Dr Brew's done is totally amazing. It's truly amazing." |