UAE Hospital Pioneers Fetal Keyhole Surgery for Spina Bifida

Groundbreaking Medical Milestone

Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi has achieved a significant medical breakthrough by becoming the first facility in the Middle East to perform keyhole surgery on unborn babies to treat spina bifida. This minimally invasive procedure, offered by the M42 health group facility, represents a major advancement in fetal surgery for the region.

Understanding the Procedure

The surgery is performed while babies remain in the womb, typically between 19 and 26 weeks of pregnancy. Surgeons make small incisions in both the mother's abdomen and uterus to access the baby and repair the spinal defect directly.

How the Surgery Works

The minimally invasive technique utilizes tiny cameras and specialized surgical instruments inserted through small openings. This approach allows surgeons to visualize the interior of the womb and carefully close the gap in the baby's spine where proper development failed to occur.

Key aspects of the procedure include:

• Surgery performed between 19-26 weeks of pregnancy
• Small incisions instead of large open surgery
• Real-time imaging guides the repair process
• Average procedure duration of 2-3 hours
• Close monitoring of both mother and baby during recovery

This approach causes significantly less trauma to both mother and baby compared to traditional open fetal surgery, which requires much larger incisions.

Medical Significance and Impact

Spina bifida affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 pregnancies worldwide. The condition develops when the spine fails to close completely during early fetal development, leaving the spinal cord exposed and vulnerable to damage.

Potential Complications

Children born with severe spina bifida often face:

• Paralysis in the lower body
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus)
• Learning difficulties
• Need for multiple surgeries throughout life

Early intervention through fetal surgery can prevent some of this damage. Research demonstrates that babies who receive surgery before birth often experience better mobility and fewer complications compared to those treated only after delivery.

Regional Healthcare Advancement

Fetal surgery represents one of medicine's most technically challenging fields. Only a select number of medical centers worldwide possess the expertise and equipment necessary to perform these procedures safely.

The availability of this treatment in the UAE addresses a significant gap for families throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. Previously, expectant parents faced the difficult decision of traveling abroad for treatment or waiting until after birth, when repair options become more limited.

Strategic Healthcare Development

This development aligns with the UAE's broader initiative to establish itself as a regional medical hub. The country has made substantial investments in attracting top medical talent and acquiring advanced technologies to serve both local populations and medical tourists from neighboring countries.

The introduction of this specialized procedure demonstrates the UAE's commitment to providing cutting-edge healthcare technology and expanding access to advanced medical treatments for families in the region.

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Source: UAE hospital performs keyhole surgery on babies in the womb to treat spina bifida - DHArab