Baby girl thriving after first in-utero surgery to treat spina bifida performed at Cleveland Clinic

A baby girl who was operated on in the womb to treat and prevent a birth defect is now thriving. 

Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio joined other top hospitals in the nation by performing its first in-utero surgery on an infant diagnosed with spina bifida, a severe birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord doesn’t form properly. 

A team of 23 clinicians including neurosurgeons, cardiologists, obstetricians and anesthesiologist performed the operation on the 23-week-old fetus in February.

The mother, who has wished not to be named, delivered a healthy baby girl at 37 weeks via C-section on June 3, and both are reportedly doing well.

  

The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio performed its first in-utero spina bifida surgery on a 23-week-old fetus in February (pictured) 

The baby girl was diagnosed with spina bifida before she was even born. Pictured: Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic perform spina bifida surgery

Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord doesn't form properly, which can cause walking and mobility problems. Pictured: Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic perform spina bifida surgery

The baby girl was  diagnosed with spina bifida before she was even born. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord doesn’t form properly, which can cause walking and mobility problems. Pictured, left and right: Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic perform spina bifida surgery

Cleveland Clinic, often considered among the medical field’s innovators  is joining the growing field, which was performed by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

‘By successfully repairing the defect before birth, we’re allowing this child to have the best possible outcome and significantly improve her quality of life,’ said Dr Darrell Cass, the director of fetal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. 

‘There are different measures of quality in determining success for fetal repairs and in this particular case, all metrics for maximum quality were achieved.’    

Spina bifida is a defect of the neural tube, a structure from which the brain and spinal cord form.

It normally closes early in pregnancy. But, in those with spina bifida, the neural tube fails to develop or properly close.

This leaves the spine and the nerves susceptible to trauma and damage. 

Children often suffer from walking and mobility problems due to weak muscles or nerves in the legs not working properly.

They can also experience bowel and bladder problems, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and a have higher risk of wounds.

More than 1,600 babies are born with spina bifida each year in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Currently, there is no cure for spina bifida. Treatment consists of managing symptoms and preventing complications.   

However, a randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011 found that performing surgery in-utero may result in better neurologic function for babies than if done after delivery. 

Doctors first cut a cesarean-like incision to expose the mother's uterus. Next, they use ultrasound (pictured) to locate the fetus and repair the baby's spine through a 4.5-centimeter wide opening in the uterus

Doctors first cut a cesarean-like incision to expose the mother’s uterus. Next, they use ultrasound (pictured) to locate the fetus and repair the baby’s spine through a 4.5-centimeter wide opening in the uterus

The baby was born via C-section at 37 weeks on June 3, and both mother and daughter are reportedly doing well. Pictured: Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic perform spina bifida surgery

The baby was born via C-section at 37 weeks on June 3, and both mother and daughter are reportedly doing well. Pictured: Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic perform spina bifida surgery

The operation begins by performing a Cesarean section-like incision to expose the mother’s uterus.

Surgeons use ultrasound to locate the fetus and repair the baby’s spine through a 4.5-centimeter wide opening in the uterus.

The surgery is incredibly high-risk because the mother can go into premature labor while she’s being operated on.

To prepare, Cleveland Clinic’s team visited other centers where the surgery is performed and conducted simulations over the course of a year.

‘Although the surgery was a success, spina bifida is never cured,’ Dr Cass said.

‘Moving forward, the baby will require ongoing supportive care provided by a multidisciplinary team of caregivers in our Spina Bifida Clinic, which will involve neurology, urology, orthopedics, developmental pediatrics and neurosurgery, among other specialists.’  

According to FOX 8, in-utero spina bifida surgery is only available at around 20 hospitals across North America 

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