The patient from Colombia underwent the rare open spina-bifida (Birth defect of the spine) procedure at Burjeel Medical City’s Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine and Therapy Cente (Abu Dhabi)r. Spina bifida is a birth defect that happens when the bones of the spine do not form and this leads to the spinal cord being left exposed to amniotic fluid, resulting in permanent disability.
The multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Mandeep Singh, Consultant, Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics, performed this most complex challenging surgery.
Surgical details:
Dr. Singh, who served in UK for 22 years, said; during the fetal repair surgery, a small incision is made on the uterus and the back of the baby is exposed to allow the neurosurgeon to close the spina bifida defect.
“We use a synthetic patch to cover the defect. The amniotic fluid is then instilled back into the cavity and the uterus is closed back up. The baby will remain in the womb for the remainder of the pregnancy and will be delivered by caesarean section at 37 weeks’ gestation,” said Dr. Mandeep Singh.
The mother is stable and expected to deliver her baby in August at Burjeel Medical City. After the birth, a specialist team will evaluate and plan further course of treatment. .
State-of-the-art Fetal Care
The procedure that is performed is not a cure, but it could make a big difference in the child’s life after birth. “In-utero repair of spina bifida reduces motor function loss of limbs and improves outcomes. After the delivery, the baby needs follow up and, in some cases, may need to undergo physiotherapy and all other medical assessments to ensure their well-being,” Dr. Singh said.
If untreated, depending on the severity of the condition, a baby born with spina bifida is at risk of developing a host of complications ranging from orthopedic problems to issues with bowel and bladder control.
Burjeel Medical City
Burjeel Medical City is a 400-bed multi-specialty hospital and quaternary care center located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It offers high-quality specialized treatment and complex care in over 40 adult and pediatric specialties, aided by state-of-the-art medical technology and an international team of experts.
