Fetal intervention involves in utero

In utero

In utero is a Latin term literally meaning "in the womb". In biology, the phrase describes the state of an embryo or fetus. In legal contexts, the phrase is used to refer to unborn children. Under common law, unborn children are still considered to exist for property transfer purposes.-See also:*...

 surgical treatment of a fetus

Fetus

A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...

. Procedures include open fetal surgery

Fetal surgery

Fetal surgery is any of a broad range of surgical techniques that are used to treat birth defects in fetuses who are still in the pregnant uterus.* Open fetal surgery involves completely opening the uterus to operate on the fetus....

, the most invasive, and the less invasive fetendo

Fetendo

Fetendo is a form of fetal intervention in the treatment of birth defects and other fetal problems. The procedure uses real-time video imagery from fetoscopy and ultrasonography to guide very small surgical instruments into the uterus in order to surgically help the fetus...

 and fetal image-guided surgery

Image-guided surgery

Image-guided surgery is the general term used for any surgical procedure where the surgeon employs tracked surgical instruments in conjunction with preoperative or intraoperative images in order to indirectly guide the procedure. Most image-guided surgical procedures are minimally invasive...

.

Fetal intervention is relatively new. Advancing technologies allow earlier and more accurate diagnosis of diseases and congenital problems in a fetus.

Most problems do not require or are not treatable through fetal intervention. The exceptions are anatomical problems for which correction in utero is feasible and may be of significant benefit in the future development and survival of the fetus. Early correction (prior to birth) of these problems will likely increase the odds of a healthy and relatively "normal" baby.

The pregnant woman bears as much, if not more, risk as her fetus during any form of fetal intervention. Besides the general risk that any surgery bears, there is also a risk to the health of the mother's uterus

Uterus

The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

, potentially limiting her ability to bear more children. The risk is higher than from an elective Cesarean section because:

• the incision typically will be a classical vertical one, with a greater risk of complications in subsequent pregnancies
• the longer duration of the surgery, while the fetal intervention is performed
• delivery of the baby will require a second Cesarean section days or weeks later

External links

• UCSF Fetal Treatment Center: What is Fetal Intervention?
• The Brown Fetal Treatment Program - Providence, Rhode Island
• The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment
• German Center for Fetal Surgery & Minimally-Invasive Therapy
• St. Louis Fetal Care Institute at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center