OPEN FETAL SURGERY
In open fetal surgery, the mother is anesthetized, an incision is made in the lower abdomen to expose the uterus, the uterus is opened using a special stapling device to prevent bleeding, the surgical repair of the fetus is completed, the uterus followed by the maternal abdominal wall are closed, and the mother awakened. This is a major abdominal operation like a Cesarean section, except that at the end of the operation the mother is still pregnant.The anesthetic and surgical techniques were developed in the 1980s and have proven quite safe for mother and fetus. However, this is major surgery which requires hospitalization for 3 to 7 days, requires Cesarean delivery of this and future pregnancies, and often causes preterm labor and preterm delivery. The pregnancy must be supervised closely by an obstretric specialist for preterm labor and medications to control preterm labor are required until delivery.
Does the baby get an anesthetic and what about breathing how do they prevent the baby from trying to gasp for air in order to return to the amniotic fluid?
