Fetal Surgery

an answer to
herapeutic abortion
F etal
Introduction Report Presentation
Fetal Surgery:
procedure
benefits
risks
Moral and Pastoral
Implications
Conclusion
an answer to
herapeutic abortion
F etal
Fetal surgery is the surgical treatment of a
fetus with certain life-threatening congenital
abnormalities.
Surgical intervention during
pregnancy on the fetus is
meant to correct problems
that would be too advanced
to correct after birth.
A wide range of surgical techniques can be used to treat the fetus. Generally,
the techniques are divided into two categories:
Open fetal surgery:

Fetoscopic surgery:
A hysterotomy (Cesarean section) is performed and the
fetus is partially removed so that the area that needs
surgery
This typeisof
exposed.
surgery,This method,
which employsknown as aninvasive
minimally EXIT (ex
utero intrapartum
techniques, is usedtreatment) is usually
more often employed
than open surgery.when
This the
fetus suffers
alternative is from a congenital
less traumatic anddefect thatthe
reduces blocks the of
chances
airway.
preterm labor.
Fetal surgery becomes an
option when doctors predict
that the fetus will not live long
enough to make it to delivery or
live long after birth.
Fetal tumors are another Fetal surgery is now also being

life-threatening condition that can be considered in the treatment of some
treated in utero. Guided by ultrasound severely disabling conditions that aren't
life threatening, but could benefit from fetal
imagery, radiofrequency ablation can
intervention, such as spina bifida.
be used to cut off blood supply to the
tumor.
Fetal surgery is intended to decrease the handicaps by
protecting the fetuses previously exposed spinal tissue from additional
damage by the amniotic fluid and intrauterine movement. Doctors say this
procedure can not restore neurological function which has already been lost,
but it may prevent additional loss from occurring due to the
intrauterine environment.
As an added and unexpected benefit, it was discovered

that the procedure apparently affects the way the
brain develops in utero, allowing
certain malformations of the brain, typically
associated with spina bifida, to correct
themselves.
fetal surgery requires the
mother to undergo surgery to
expose the fetus. Then a neurosurgeon
carefully closes the lesion on the
baby's back (myelomeningocele). The fetus
is then closed back inside the
womb, the mother is sewn up, and
the pregnancy continues.
Before undergoing fetal surgery, one
must understand and accept the risks
associated with the procedure that your doctor
has recommended. The biggest risks
associated with open fetal surgery include
bleeding, infection, preterm labor
and more rarely, complications
associated with anesthesia
medications.
Most of the open surgical techniques involve
an incision in a part of the
uterus that would require mothers to have
any future children delivered via
Cesarean section.
Fetal surgery also poses risks to

the health of the fetus, but these risks are
usually outweighed by the benefit of
surgery.
Surgeon Joseph Bruner
touches the hand of his
tiny patient, 21-week-old
unborn baby Samuel Alexander
Armas, during spina bifida surgery at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center in
Nashville, Tennessee. Doctors repaired
a lesion on Samuel's back.
Surgeons hold up the hand
of 24-week-old unborn baby Sarah
Marie Switzer, during another
spina bifida surgery at Vanderbilt UMC in
Nashville
Leads one to consider the :
Life threatening cases

the fetus will not live long
enough to make it to the delivery
A threat to the life of the mother
injury to the mother
induced delivery
Non-life threatening cases
fetal lung anomalies
CCAM Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation
twin-twin transfusion syndrome
Spina Bifida:
paralysis
bladder and bowel problems
limb and spine disorders
hydrocephalus
Fetus as an individual human being.
The increaseduse of sophisticated
ultrasound technology, coupled with other
developments in fetal care and medical treatment, have
given dramatic visibility to the fetus.
In the eyes of doctors, this visibility is not a carefully
constructed image or tool for social engineering; it is an
uncovering of the real physical growth and
development of the fetus, leading to a more
accurate, humane and effective practice of
medicine.
The significance and impact of such
advances in medicine cannot be ignored; with
regard to preventing health defects in newborn
children.
the old situation can no longer prevail,
where once little could be done at crucial stages of
development in utero, because the medical
knowledge and skill were not accessible.
an answer to
herapeutic abortion
F etal
as reported by:
bro. raymond ambray
bro. breynard peji, rcj
Supplement:
9 months in the womb
explained
Samuel Armas’ story
TWO MONTHS
By
ONE
THREE 8 weeks
MONTH
MONTHS the embryo grows to 1/2 an inch,
the major muscles system develops and she
By Fertilization!
the second The spermyour
trimester, and baby
egg join
is in in
now
moves gracefully like a good swimmer
your
fetalfallopian
itsalthough stage tube
and to form a2 unique
measures 1/2 to 3 inches
you can't feel it yet. This tiny human
human
inislength. being
Fully -- that's
formed the 46 combined
perfectly developed withheart
long,rate can be
tapering
chromosomes
heard with a which
special pre-determine
instrument called all
a of a
fingers, feet and toes and whose skin is
person's physical characteristics.
Doppler.
almost transparent with a highway of delicate
arteries and veins visible to the ends of the
finger
SIX MONTHS
FIVE MONTHS
FOUR MONTHS
The tender skin is now covered by a waxy
By 20 weeks
substance
The baby your "vernix"
iscalled
coated baby
with will
and
soft have
thegrown
downy hair to 1
baby
pound
continues
called (454g) and
andthough
to practice
"lanugo" still
breathing
comes small
in at by and
inhaling
7 inches
fragile
amniotic
in she
length canweighing
fluid
and inhear and6 recognize
preparationto 7for thethe
ounces.big day
mother's
when shevoice! takes her first breath of air.
Fine hair, eyelashes, and fingerprints are
The
all
You'll eyes
complete begin
be feeling to
andthe part
this and
baby
baby isopen
move all even
mademore
up.
occassionally
and for short periods
using an ultrasound device,ofthe time.
doctor
Hiccups
can tell if are
the no uncommon.
child is a girl or a boy.
EIGHT MONTHS
SEVEN
NINE MONTHS
MONTHS
Overall growth is rapid this month and
ByThe
the month's
baby
baby maysettles
end, the
gain down
asbaby lower
much is as
14inatothe
16 a
half
inches
abdomen
pound longweek.
per atand
thiscan
point
weigh
in preparation
2.5 to 3.5 for
pounds.
birth andThe
may organs
seemcontinue
less active.to mature
and taste buds
Weighing in at 4haveto 6 developed.
pounds most body
The lungs
organs are noware mature
developed andwith
at the
Ifapproximately
the bellyof
exception is the
exposed
8lungs
pounds
to
andaisbright
ifready light
the babyfor life
the
baby
outside
kicks may the
you'llget
notwomb.
aonly
quick reaction.
feel it but also be
able to see it on the outside.

Fetal Surgery

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Fetal Surgery

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an answer to

Open fetal surgery:

Fetal tumors are another Fetal surgery is now also being

As an added and unexpected benefit, it was discovered

Fetal surgery also poses risks to

Life threatening cases

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