Is intrauterine surgery justified? Report from the working group on ultrasound in obstetrics of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM)

J Perinat Med. 2016 Oct 1;44(7):737-743. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2015-0132.

Abstract

Fetal surgery involves a large number of heterogeneous interventions that vary from simple and settled procedures to very sophisticated or still-in-development approaches. The overarching goal of fetal interventions is clear: to improve the health of children by intervening before birth to correct or treat prenatally diagnosed abnormalities. This article provides an overview of fetal interventions, ethical approaches in fetal surgery, and benefits obtained from antenatal surgeries.

MeSH terms

  • Catheter Ablation / ethics
  • Catheter Ablation / methods
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Fetal Diseases / surgery
  • Fetoscopy / ethics
  • Fetoscopy / methods
  • Fetus / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Internationality
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / ethics
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Obstetrics
  • Perinatal Care
  • Pregnancy
  • Societies, Medical
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal