In a world's first, surgeons removed a 4 cm oral mass (teratoma) in a 4 month old fetus while still in the womb. This was performed at the University of Miami Hospital.
A cannula was inserted through the mother's belly and into the womb where it was directed to the mass under ultrasound and endoscopic guidance. Via this cannula, a laser was used to lop the mass off free.
A healthy baby was born 5 months later and is now a healthy, normal 20 month old child.
A more common variation of this procedure is what is known as an exit procedure. In an exit procedure, a cesarean section is performed and while the newborn is still connected via umbilical cord, all necessary procedures are performed before the cord is cut.
Needless to say, performing surgery while still in the womb is an amazing feat of medical science and technology.
Kudos to the surgery team and the mother!!!
Reference:
Successful in utero treatment of an oral teratoma via operative fetoscopy: case report and review of the literature. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Volume 207, Issue 1 , Pages e12-e15, July 2012
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