106.5 JACK fm Bristol

Bristol scientists are releasing more information today about a pioneering treatment which has reduced the risk of serious disabilities in premature babies.

The revolutionary work involves washing out the toxic fluids that can inflate the brain during a haemorrhage, which can happen to babies born early.

The research, led by Andrew Whitelaw, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at the University of Bristol, and Ian Pople, Paediatric Neurosurgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust, has shown that, after a haemorrhage, the fluid inside the ventricles contains substances potentially toxic to the immature brain. 

In 1998, they pioneered a technique by which the inside of the brain was "washed out" to remove the toxic substances.

Professor Whitelaw said: "Premature babies are particularly at risk of bleeding because in the middle of pregnancy, the fetus has many fragile blood vessels in the centre of the brain.  These blood vessels shrink by full term and bleeding is rare in babies born at 40 weeks."

From 2003 to 2006, 77 premature babies with large brain hemorrhages in Bristol, Glasgow, Katowice (Poland) and Bergen (Norway) were recruited.  39 babies had the ventricles washed out using the Drainage, Irrigation and Fibrinolytic Therapy (DRIFT) and 38 had standard treatment.

When they were two years old, independent assessors examined all the survivors.  Of 39 infants assigned to being washed out, 21 (54 per cent) died or were severely disabled versus 27 of 38 (71 per cent) in the standard group.  Amongst the survivors, 11 of 35 (31 per cent) in the DRIFT group had severe cognitive disability versus 19
of 32 (59 percent) in the standard group. 

Ian Pople said: "This is the first time that any treatment anywhere in the world has been shown to benefit these very vulnerable babies.  Initially known as "Drainage, Irrigation and Fibrinolytic Therapy (DRIFT)" this treatment is now called "ventricular lavage" and it is hoped that in the very near future it will be set up as a service at Southmead Hospital in Bristol."



Isaac Walker-Cox was one of the first babies to have the pioneering 'brain-washing' treatment following a brain haemorrhage after being born 13 weeks early at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

He weighed just 2lbs and 10oz, and at just 48 hours old he had a haemorrhage on the right side of his brain.

Isaac had the DRIFT procedure when he was just two weeks old and was attached to a machine for four days to pump out the fluid.

Mrs Walker-Cox, 36, said: "We were told after the haemorrhage that Isaac may not make it through the night, that he had one per cent survival rate.

"When Professor Whitelaw told us about the research trial, we thought we didn't have anything to lose.  He had so far carried it out on 17 babies so it was very new but we decided that if it worked it would mean Isaac did not have to have a shunt.

 "We just kept watching the liquid go through the pump day after day, just waiting to see if it worked."

Isaac now has mild paralysis on the left side of his body caused by the haemorrhage but he doesn't let it hold him back.

Mrs Walker-Cox said: "We were told Isaac may not be able to walk, and we didn't think he would be able to go to a mainstream school because we expected he would have a learning disability.  But mentally he has no problems at all, he has an above average reading age and he is very good with computers.

"He just gets on with life and is an outgoing, happy little boy.

 "We are really excited to have been part of the DRIFT treatment in the early days, it's nice for Isaac too because he knows what he has been through and he feels proud."

• Tweet

More from Bristol's News

• More Council Tax To Go To Fire Service
• Ex-Scout Leader Jailed For 15 Years
• Dewani Scheduled To Be In The Dock