Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai)
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Congenital Anomalies Treatment in Mumbai
Every parent hopes for a perfect, healthy newborn - and when a structural birth defect is discovered, whether before birth or in the first days of life, the shock and fear can be overwhelming. Congenital anomalies encompass an enormous range of structural differences - from minor variations requiring no intervention to complex defects demanding urgent newborn surgery. What every family with an affected baby deserves is a team that combines genuine clinical expertise with honest, compassionate communication from the very first conversation. At Shree Hospitals, our congenital anomaly specialists provide comprehensive Congenital Anomalies treatment in Mumbai, India - from antenatal diagnosis of birth defects through fetal anomaly diagnosis and newborn surgical correction in Mumbai to long-term structural birth defect management and long term care.
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Our Approach
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Our Approach to Anomaly Diagnosis & Management
Diagnose before birth where possible. Plan the team before delivery. Act swiftly after.
The management of congenital anomalies is one of the most multidisciplinary endeavours in all of medicine - requiring neonatologists, paediatric surgeons, cardiologists, geneticists, radiologists, and anaesthesiologists working in genuine concert rather than sequential isolation. A baby born with oesophageal atresia needs the airway secured immediately after birth, a specialist surgeon ready before the first feed is attempted, and a plan for staged repair based on the associated anatomy. A baby with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia may need ECMO before surgery is even possible. None of these outcomes happen well without advance planning - and advance planning requires early diagnosis.
At Shree Hospitals, our approach to fetal anomaly diagnosis and newborn surgical correction in Mumbai begins as early as the second trimester anomaly scan, when our maternal-fetal medicine team identifies structural abnormalities and initiates the planning process before the baby is born. This head-start changes outcomes in ways that reactive, post-delivery diagnosis cannot replicate.
- Antenatal Diagnosis - Identifying Anomalies Before Birth
- Detailed 18 to 22 week anomaly scan - the primary opportunity for identifying major structural abnormalities
- Fetal echocardiography for suspected cardiac defects - performed from 20 weeks by our dedicated fetal cardiology team
- Fetal MRI for complex brain, airway, or abdominal anomalies requiring more detailed characterisation than ultrasound provides
- Chromosomal analysis - amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, or non-invasive prenatal testing for chromosomal anomalies associated with structural defects
- Detailed prenatal counselling - realistic, honest discussions with parents about the specific anomaly identified, expected postnatal course, and surgical options
- Multidisciplinary Antenatal Planning
For significant anomalies identified before birth:
- Dedicated fetal medicine meeting - neonatologist, paediatric surgeon, cardiologist, and anaesthesiologist reviewing the case before delivery
- Delivery planning at a centre equipped to manage the specific anomaly immediately after birth
- Pre-delivery family meeting with the surgical team - parents meeting the doctors who will care for their baby before birth, reducing fear of the unknown
- Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure coordination for specific airway anomalies requiring airway management before cord clamping
- Immediate Newborn Assessment & Stabilisation
For anomalies identified at birth or in the immediate newborn period:
- Systematic top-to-toe examination of every newborn - identifying surface abnormalities and prompting investigation for associated internal defects
- Urgent surgical consultation for conditions requiring immediate intervention - oesophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, imperforate anus, and abdominal wall defects
- VACTERL association recognition - awareness that one anomaly may signal the presence of others in specific known patterns
- Genetic testing initiation - chromosomal microarray or specific gene panels guided by the clinical phenotype
- Surgical Management of Common Anomalies
Our multidisciplinary newborn surgery team manages the full spectrum of surgical congenital anomalies:
- Oesophageal atresia with or without tracheo-oesophageal fistula - primary repair or staged approach depending on the gap length and associated lung condition
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) - initial stabilisation and respiratory management before repair, with ECMO support for the most severe cases
- Duodenal and jejuno-ileal atresia - bowel continuity restoration through primary or staged anastomosis
- Abdominal wall defects (gastroschisis and omphalocele) - primary or staged closure depending on sac size and bowel condition
- Imperforate anus - staged surgical correction with posterior sagittal anorectoplasty at the appropriate age
- Neural tube defects - myelomeningocele repair within 24 to 48 hours of birth, with early neurosurgical involvement for associated hydrocephalus management
- Cardiac Anomaly Management
Working alongside our paediatric cardiology team for congenital heart defects:
- Prostaglandin infusion for duct-dependent cardiac anomalies - maintaining ductal patency until surgery can be performed
- Balloon atrial septostomy for certain cardiac anomalies requiring urgent palliation
- Surgical planning for complex cardiac defects requiring staged repair - Norwood procedure, arterial switch, and other cardiac reconstructions
- Long-term cardiac follow-up integrating with neonatal and paediatric care
- Genetic Counselling & Long-Term Family Support
- Karyotyping and chromosomal microarray for all babies with multiple or significant anomalies
- Genetic counselling - exploring inheritance patterns, recurrence risks, and implications for future pregnancies
- Rare disease pathway coordination for complex syndromes requiring multi-specialty long-term management
- Structural birth defect management and long term care coordinated through our dedicated multidisciplinary follow-up clinic - ensuring continuity across surgical, developmental, and medical needs
- Parent support groups and psychological counselling - navigating the emotional journey of caring for a child with a congenital anomaly
Happy Patients & Their Case Stories
An oesophageal atresia was identified antenatally at Shree Hospitals at 22 weeks. The family met the paediatric surgical team before delivery, a planned caesarean section was arranged, and primary repair was performed within 24 hours of birth. At 18 months, the baby is feeding normally and thriving.
Mr & Mrs. Badra
A family from rural Maharashtra arrived at Shree Hospitals with a newborn with imperforate anus. A staged surgical correction including colostomy formation, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, and eventual colostomy closure as part of structural birth defect management and long term care has given their child the possibility of normal continence.
Mr & Mrs. Kapoor
How to Identify Birth Defects in Newborns?
Some anomalies are immediately obvious at birth; others require clinical assessment or investigation to identify. These signs warrant prompt specialist evaluation:
Immediately Obvious at Birth:
- Abdominal wall opening (gastroschisis or omphalocele) - bowel or abdominal contents visible outside the body, requiring immediate covering and urgent surgical consultation
- Absence of anal opening (imperforate anus) - identified on routine newborn examination, requiring surgical planning before the first feed
- Spinal defect with membranous sac (myelomeningocele) - visible spinal abnormality requiring neurosurgical assessment within hours
- Cleft lip - visible facial cleft identified at birth, with palate assessment required by clinical examination
Identified Through Clinical Assessment:
- Failure to pass meconium within 48 hours - potentially indicating Hirschsprung's disease or intestinal obstruction
- Bilious vomiting in the first hours of life - always abnormal in a newborn, suggesting intestinal obstruction requiring urgent investigation
- Abdominal distension from birth - intestinal atresia, Hirschsprung's disease, or other obstructive causes requiring imaging
- A heart murmur with cyanosis - suggesting a significant congenital cardiac defect requiring echocardiography
Identified Antenatally and Confirmed at Birth:
- Pre-counselled families expecting a baby with a known anomaly - arriving at our centre with a pre-agreed management plan
- Confirmation of suspected anomalies through postnatal imaging and specialist assessment
Important FAQs : Congenital Anomalies
Can all congenital anomalies be detected before birth?
Many significant structural anomalies are identifiable through antenatal diagnosis of birth defects - particularly the detailed 18 to 22 week anomaly scan. However, no scan detects 100% of conditions, and some anomalies only become apparent after birth through clinical examination.
What causes congenital anomalies?
Causes include genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, maternal infections (rubella, CMV), medications taken in early pregnancy, poorly controlled diabetes, and environmental factors - though in many cases no specific cause is identified.
Does my baby need surgery immediately after birth for every anomaly?
Not always. Some anomalies require immediate surgical correction (oesophageal atresia, abdominal wall defects), while others are managed with initial stabilisation and planned repair at the optimal age (cardiac defects, cleft palate). Our multidisciplinary newborn surgery team determines timing based on each specific condition.
What is the recurrence risk for a congenital anomaly in future pregnancies?
This depends entirely on the specific anomaly and its cause. Chromosomal conditions carry a specific recurrence risk, while isolated structural defects often have a much lower recurrence probability. Genetic counselling as part of Congenital Anomalies treatment in Mumbai, India provides individualised risk estimates.
Where can I find long-term support for a child with a congenital anomaly?
Shree Hospitals provides structured structural birth defect management and long term care through our multidisciplinary clinic, coordinating every aspect of your child's ongoing care. We also connect families with appropriate support groups and community resources throughout the journey.
Treatments at Shree Hospitals
Emergency Newborn Surgical Correction
Immediate paediatric surgical intervention for life-threatening anomalies - fetal anomaly diagnosis and newborn surgical correction in Mumbai by our experienced multidisciplinary newborn surgery team available around the clock.
Top Neonatology Specialists In Mumbai
Dr. Raghav Arora
Consultant Fetal Medicine Specialist
Every Surgeon & Specialist at Shree Hospitals brings years of specialised experience to each case.
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