Q&A: What do you think of fetal surgery for spina bifida?

First off, I am sorry to hear you are dealing with medical worries about your baby before your baby is even born. I am sure this is very stressful for you and your family.

Fetal surgery is a relatively new field of medicine. Some fetal surgeries can be done with just tiny incisions or even just needles. Surgery for spina bifida (meningomyelocoele) is more complicated than many of these simple procedures being done for other sorts of conditions. Most hospitals, even major women's and children's hospitals, don't offer prenatal surgery for spina bifida because the questions about whether the risks are worth the benefits have not yet been answered.

A major research study is in progress to try to find out if in utero surgery improves the outcomes for fetuses with spina bifida, or if the risks of surgery (infection, preterm birth, fetal death) outweigh the benefits. The doctors involved in this study are experienced with the surgical techniques for spina bifida, and will publish the results, hopefully helping many families like yours in the future. To find out more, talk to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and go to the website for the Management of Meningomyelocoele (MOMs) trial at www.spinabifidamoms.com. I wish you all the best.