VOA常速英语2007-Fetal Surgery More Common, Shows Promise

By Carol Pearson
Washington
11 October 2007
 

A children's hospital in Texas reports a rare condition that can threaten the lives of identical twins. The disorder¹ has been noticed in a number of countries with advanced medical practices. A hospital spokesman says, to correct the problem, surgeons are performing life-saving surgery more often on twins even before they are born.  VOA's Carol Pearson reports.

It happened most recently with twins -- Annabell and Andie Elliott -- born at Texas Children's Hospital.  The twins' father, Chad Elliott marvels² at Annabell.

"She's so much bigger than Andie, but she's still half the size of a normal birthweight baby."

Early in the pregnancy³, doctors told Elliott and his wife Shana that their babies needed life-saving surgery. The twins suffered a rare, highly fatal condition in which they shared a single placenta.  "Annabell kept growing and growing and growing, and little Andie was stuck over there getting very small amounts of blood."

This condition only happens with identical twins. And laser surgery in the womb is the only way to correct it. And that is what Dr. Anthony Johnson and his colleague did. "We selectively disconnected them."

The condition is called "twin-to-twin transfusion⁴ syndrome⁵." Pregnant women may not even know their babies are at risk. But what happens is one twin gets too much blood, the other too little.  As a result, both are highly likely to die.  This condition is often detected during a sonogram.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health funded a study that concludes this type of surgery showed promise in trials. But the Elliotts do not need studies.

"They performed a miracle, and they saved our babies when it seemed like all hope was lost," said Shana Elliott. The babies were born September 18th.  They are small, but healthy.

1 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

2 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

3 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

4 transfusion   

n.输血，输液

参考例句：

• She soon came to her senses after a blood transfusion.输血后不久她就苏醒了。
• The doctor kept him alive by a blood transfusion.医生靠输血使他仍然活着。

5 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。