See Also: Fetal surgery(health)
fetal(medicine)
fetal(dictionary)
Fetal(health)
Fetal distress(health)
Fetal dystocia(health)
Fetal monitoring(health)
Fetal fibronectin(health)
Circulation, fetal(health)
Fetal infant(health)

Fetal surgery (health)


The surgical treatment of the fetus before birth. Also called prenatal or antenatal surgery. Fetal surgery is done when the fetus is not expected to live long enough to make it through to delivery or to live long after birth unless fetal surgery is performed. For instance, if a fetus has a severe form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, in which the liver is located in the chest and lung development is severely restricted, fetal surgery is done to lessen the severity of the problem and permit the baby to live to birth to undergo further corrective surgery. Fetal surgery can be done in various ways. Fetoscopic surgery uses a fiberoptic scope to enter the uterus through small surgical openings. The aim is to correct congenital malformations (birth defects) without major incisions and without removing the fetus from the womb. This is generally less traumatic than open fetal surgery and reduces the chances of preterm (premature) labor.