JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Professor Simcha Yagel, the director of the maternity ward at Hadassah hospital on Mount Scopus, has received a prestigious award, the Ian Donald gold medal from the International Society for Ultrasound In Obstretics and Gynecology (ISUOG). Yagel is the first Israeli physician to receive such an award, which is granted for trailblazing research and achievements in diagnosis and treatment through ultrasound.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
A veteran in the field of fetal ultrasound with 40 years of experience as an obstetrician, Yagel has published over 300 articles in leading peer-reviewed journals,in general OB/GYN, ultrasound, and basic research; most recently his work focused on 3D/4D fetal echocardiography and functional evaluation of the fetal heart, 3D/4D neurosonography, and 3D/4D in other organ systems, including the female pelvic floor and the changes observed during parturition and in the context of pelvic floor dysfunction later in life.
Yagel has also developed a method, termed the “Yagel method” which has led to a seven percent increase in the detection of heart defects in-utero, which can save babies from a fatal outcome. Last year Yagel gave a webinar on the subject to 2,000 physicians in China, and he is sought after worldwide for advice on fetal ultrasound issues. Professor Yagel has encouraged the use of three vessels and trachea view (3VT) in fetal cardiac scanning, as well as 4D screening wherever possible, since 3D imaging shows static images, while 4D ultrasound adds live-stream video, capturing the activity of the heart wall, valves, and blood flow.
“The machines are so advanced. It makes one feel more at ease with the diagnosis,” explains Prof. Yagel. “The modeling also makes it far easier to explain things to families and students. And surgeons can easily see what they’re dealing with.”
In a recent case, a young Israeli mother of two was referred to Yagel after her doctor detected a possible heart defect in the 21st week of her third pregnancy. Yagel sent her for Hadassah’s sophisticated genetic testing to see if there were additional problems that are sometimes linked to heart defects. The results, he said, would be available in five days, the fastest turnaround in Israel. If necessary, Hadassah geneticists would also do exome sequencing to look for irregularities in the genome.
The genetic test came back negative, but the baby was found to have a small left ventricle caused by a coarctation, or narrowing of the aorta. Armed with early detection of the heart problem, one of Hadassah’s pediatric cardiologists closely monitored the young lady’s pregnancy. When it was time for her to deliver, her doctors chose to perform a Cesarean section to avoid any extra stress on the baby during birth.
The mother and child are doing fine, and the baby is expected to lead a normal life. If fetal monitoring had shown that the baby needed open-heart surgery right after birth, the doctors would have been prepared. As Prof. Yagel relates, “It’s clear that early detection helps improve results. The fetal heart can be monitored throughout the pregnancy, so we know what to expect at birth. With proper intervention, most heart problems can be overcome right after birth.”
Yagel said that the award delighted him and was a “great honor.” He added that “in the merit of my research and activity in this field I have brought joy to many people, whose early detection of issues enabled them to take important decisions. I feel that I represent Hadassah and Israel with honor and am honored myself to be a part of the distinguished group of doctors and researchers who have received this medal.”