Vanellope Hope Wilkins, a seven-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire, defied medical odds with a groundbreaking heart surgery, paving the way for other children with ectopia cordis to receive treatment.
A New Lease of Life for Vanellope Hope Wilkins
Vanellope Hope Wilkins, a seven-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire, 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 underwent groundbreaking surgery to reconstruct a protective cage around her heart using her ribs.
Understanding Ectopia Cordis
Ectopia cordis is an extremely rare condition where the heart protrudes outside the chest through a split or absent sternum, or breastbone. This condition affects only a few cases per million births and carries a less than 10% chance of survival. However, Vanellope defied those odds and was allowed home after 14 months in hospital.
Ectopia cordis is a rare congenital heart defect where the heart is located outside of its normal position in the thoracic cavity.
This condition occurs in approximately 1 in 100,000 births and can be associated with other genetic syndromes.
The heart may protrude through the chest wall, which can lead to complications such as respiratory distress and difficulty feeding.
Surgical intervention is often necessary to repair or replace the heart.
A Complex Procedure
The surgery to place Vanellope‘s heart back inside her chest is extremely complex and has never been performed like this before in the UK. The procedure involves breaking Vanellope‘s ribs on both sides to move them in order to form a protective cage around her heart. This bilateral rib osteotomy takes more than nine hours to complete, but ultimately results in a successful outcome.
Vanellope von Schweetz, the beloved character from Disney's Wreck-It Ralph, underwent a digital heart surgery in the movie.
This fictional procedure is based on real-life treatments for congenital heart defects.
In reality, children with CHD often require multiple surgeries to repair or replace damaged heart structures.
The American Heart Association reports that 1 in 100 births are affected by some form of CHD.
Advances in medical technology and surgical techniques have significantly improved outcomes for these patients.
A New Lease of Life
After the surgery, Vanellope is recovering in the children’s paediatric intensive care unit and will spend some time in hospital before being able to take off her protective chest brace. Her mum, Naomi Findlay, describes Vanellope as ‘a happy little thing‘ who ‘brings a lot of joy and happiness.‘ With this surgery, Vanellope is expected to have a better quality of life and be able to live without the need for further surgery.
A Team Effort
The success of Vanellope‘s surgery is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the medical team involved. The team from the Congenital Heart Centre, Leicester Children’s Hospital, and Great Ormond Street Hospital worked together to bring this unprecedented procedure to life. Consultant congenital cardiac surgeon Ikenna Omeje describes the experience as ‘exciting‘ and says that it’s a satisfaction to know that their work has made a difference in someone’s life.
The medical team involved in Vanellope's surgery, a British toddler born with a rare heart condition, consisted of several specialists.
The surgical team included cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) doctors, and perfusionists.
Additionally, the team included radiologists for imaging guidance, cardiologists for pre-surgical evaluation, and nurses from various specialties.
The surgery was a complex procedure that required coordination among multiple medical professionals to ensure Vanellope's successful treatment.
Vanellope‘s story is a reminder of the importance of medical research and innovation. Her pioneering surgery will pave the way for other children with ectopia cordis to receive treatment, giving them a second chance at a normal life.
