Fetal surgery in the simplest terms is surgery that is performed on the fetus inside the uterus of the mother. It was introduced in n 1963 in Auckland, New Zealand by A. William Liley. There are three types of fetal surgery; Open fetal surgery, Fetoscopic surgery, and Fetal image-guided surgery. Doctors have found that the fetus can actually sustain anesthesia by 33 to 41 weeks, and these babies have the opportunity to heal, recover and grow inside the uterus the safest place for the fetus to be at that age.
Types of Fetal Surgery
There are three types of fetal surgeries: Open fetal surgery, Fetoscopic surgery, and Fetal image-guided surgery. Open Fetal Surgery This surgery is when the mother is given anesthesia, and then the fetal surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen for easier access to the uterus, which is then cut open with a “staple like device” which prevents the uterus from bleeding. the uterus is then partially or completely taken on out the uterus, the surgery is performed and then the fetus is put back in the uterus to heal and grow. The recovery time for the mother is 3 to 7 days and her birth method is a c section for the baby and for future babies. The type of abnormalities that need open fetal surgery are myelomeningocele, which is the most severe …show more content…
The fetus is also being treated before it’s fully developed which allows the baby to heal and grow in the uterus where it has its most efficient supply of nutrients. However, there are several risks to fetal surgery, one being that the surgery being unsuccessful, there isn’t a 100% guarantee to the baby’s recovery. Another risk being the follow up procedure the baby has to undergo once it’s born. The surgery is usually only performed when the fetus had undergone gestation to an infant’s quality of life, which is reduced by a huge factor without surgical