Children’s Hospital, in cooperation with University of Colorado Hospital, will soon begin delivering high-risk babies.
It marks the first time in the hospital’s 100-year history that deliveries will be part of its ongoing services.
“This is being driven by new technology,” said Jim Shmerling, Children’s chief executive.
Higher-resolution ultrasound screening enables doctors to find congenital problems in a fetus well before birth, Shmerling said.
This has allowed the two hospitals to develop treatments and intervene earlier.
In the past year, four babies with serious heart defects were delivered at Children’s and immediately operated on.
As soon as one of these babies lost the circulation provided by the mother’s umbilical cord, it would have “died within seconds,” Shmerling said.
In addition to heart problems, other congenital conditions, such as those affecting breathing and the brain, also may require immediate treatment, Shmerling said.
While physicians from Children’s Hospital will focus on the newborns, University Hospital will provide obstetric and health services for the mother.
The hospitals have signed a letter of intent to develop the program and create a list of high-risk conditions they will treat, hospital officials said.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or mjaffe@denverpost.com
