The Cleveland Clinic successfully completed its first fetal surgery inside the uterus to repair spina bifida, reports Fox8.
Four insights:
1. A team of over a dozen specialists including pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists and a fetal cardiologist completed the surgery on a nearly 23-week fetus in February.
2. Darrell Cass, MD, director of fetal surgery in Cleveland Clinic's Fetal Center oversaw the procedure.
3. Spina bifida can lead to a myriad of problems in babies such as paralysis, difficulties with urinating and a build-up of pressure and fluid which can cause brain damage.
4. The baby girl was born at nearly 37 weeks on June 3 and is recovering well with her mother.