Fetendo
Encyclopedia
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. The name Fetendo was adopted for the procedure because of how the video-based manipulation recalls a video game.
. It can be often be achieved with just a small guided wire sent through a needle-puncture of the skin (percutaneous), though in some cases it may require that a small opening be made in the mother's abdomen.
The fact that it is less invasive reduces the mother's postoperative recovery and lessens the troubles with preterm labor.
Fetendo has proven to be very useful for some, but not all, fetal conditions. Some examples include:
Fetal intervention
Fetal intervention involves in utero surgical treatment of a fetus. Procedures include open fetal surgery, the most invasive, and the less invasive fetendo and fetal image-guided surgery.Fetal intervention is relatively new...
in the treatment of birth defects and other fetal problems. The procedure uses real-time video imagery from fetoscopy
Fetoscopy
Fetoscopy is an endoscopic procedure during pregnancy to allow access to the fetus, the amniotic cavity, the umbilical cord, and the fetal side of the placenta. A small incision is made in the abdomen, and an endoscope is inserted through the abdominal wall and uterus into the amniotic cavity...
and ultrasonography to guide very small surgical instruments into the uterus in order to surgically help the fetus. The name Fetendo was adopted for the procedure because of how the video-based manipulation recalls a video game.
Overview
Fetendo intervention is less invasive than open fetal surgeryFetal 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....
. It can be often be achieved with just a small guided wire sent through a needle-puncture of the skin (percutaneous), though in some cases it may require that a small opening be made in the mother's abdomen.
The fact that it is less invasive reduces the mother's postoperative recovery and lessens the troubles with preterm labor.
Fetendo has proven to be very useful for some, but not all, fetal conditions. Some examples include:
- Twin-twin transfusion syndrome - laser ablation of vessels
- Fetal bladder obstructions
- Aortic or pulmonary valvuloplasty - opening the aortic or pulmonary fetal heart valves to allow blood flow
- Atrial septostomy - opening the inter-atrial septum of the fetal heart to allow unrestricted blood flow between the atria
- Congenital diaphragmatic herniaCongenital diaphragmatic herniaCongenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital malformation of the diaphragm. The most common type of CDH is a Bochdalek hernia; other types include Morgagni's hernia, diaphragm eventration and central tendon defects of the diaphragm...
- balloon tracheal occlusion