Nepal Performs First In-Utero Blood Transfusion to Treat Anemia in Unborn Baby
Doctors at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital have treated anemia in an unborn baby through an in-utero blood transfusion, in what they say is the first such procedure reported in Nepal.
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KATHMANDU, AUGUST 23, 2026: Doctors at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital have treated anemia in an unborn baby while it was still in the womb, in what doctors say is the first procedure of its kind in Nepal.
The condition was detected during an ultrasound when the mother was six months pregnant. Doctors then carried out further testing before providing a blood transfusion to the fetus through the placenta.
Anemia Detected During Six-Month Pregnancy
According to radiologist Dr Pradip Raj Regmi, the fetal anemia was discovered during a routine ultrasound examination of the six-month pregnant woman.
Doctors subsequently obtained a blood sample from the fetus through the placenta for laboratory testing.
The tests confirmed that the unborn baby had a low blood level and required treatment.
O-Negative Blood Given Through the Placenta
Following the diagnosis, doctors administered O-negative blood to the unborn baby through the placenta.
The procedure was performed while the baby was still in the womb.
Dr Regmi said the pregnancy has since progressed and the baby has now reached eight months of gestation.
The treatment allowed doctors to continue monitoring the pregnancy after addressing the fetal anemia.
What Can Cause Fetal Anemia?
Doctors say fetal anemia can have several possible causes.
These may include:
Repeated pregnancy loss
Certain hereditary conditions
Anemia in the mother
Other conditions affecting the fetus during pregnancy
The underlying cause can vary from one pregnancy to another, making prenatal monitoring important when doctors identify potential warning signs.
Multiple Medical Teams Involved
The procedure involved specialists and healthcare workers from several departments at the teaching hospital.
The medical team included professionals from:
Radiology and Interventional Radiology
Anesthesiology
Medicine
Obstetrics
Transfusion Medicine
Pediatrics
The multidisciplinary approach was required because the procedure involved treating a medical condition in the fetus while continuing to protect the health of the mother.
A Significant Development in Fetal Care
Doctors describe the procedure as an important development in Nepal's ability to provide advanced fetal medicine and in-utero treatment.
Previously, fetal anemia requiring transfusion would have posed significant challenges for families needing such specialised care.
The reported procedure demonstrates that selected fetal conditions can now be diagnosed and treated before birth at a Nepali hospital.
Published 11 hours ago in Health