What is Fetal Surgery

We offer the full spectrum of feral therapies except FETO or open fetal surgery at present.

Fetal surgery is a highly complex surgical intervention to repair birth defects in the womb that requires the most expert care for both mother and unborn baby.

Its estimated that there would be about 487,000 babies born with birth defects in India, out of these 7200 per year are in Delhi. Maternal-fetal specialists have long known that some birth defects could be successfully treated after birth. But as technology, fetal imaging and prenatal testing have improved in the past few decades, so too has our knowledge of fetal development.

Expanded diagnostic tools have allowed us to identify more precisely when conditions worsen during fetal development. This knowledge has helped us develop new ways to help babies sooner. Today, fetal therapy is recognized as one of the most promising fields in fetal medicine, and prenatal surgery is becoming an option for a growing number of babies with birth defects.

We follow the principles laid down in 1982 when fetal surgery was first contemplated.
Pre-requisite for considering fetal surgery*
Fetal conditions which warrant in utero therapy are usually simple structural defects that interfere with normal fetal development but if corrected will allow normal development to proceed
Accurate prenatal diagnosis
Exclusion of associated structural and genetic abnormalities
Normal fetal karyotype
An understanding of the natural history of the disease with established prognosis – fetal intervention is justified only if there is a reasonable probability of benefit from it
Serial evaluation of the fetus to differentiate those with mild disease who may not need intervention from those with severe disease who will not survive without intervention
Therapy proven to be useful at least in animal models
Informed consent after detailed discussion with the family regarding risks and benefits including long term outcomes
Multidisciplinary team comprising obstetrician with interest in high risk pregnancy, fetal medicine specialist, neonatologist, paediatric surgeon and psychologist
Centre equipped with the logistics, instruments, expertise and intensive care nursery to deal with these uncommon procedures

Article by
Apollo Hospitals