About Fetal Therapy

What, Why and How of the speciality ...

Fetal therapy can be defined as any fetal intervention, which attempts to treat a disorder in utero in order to improve perinatal outcome. Over five decades ago, Liley demonstrated what can be truly called as the first attempt at fetal therapy by performing an intraperitoneal transfusion for fetal anemia under X-ray control. The advent of high resolution ultrasound paved the way for better understanding of fetal developmental processes and natural history of disorders and some fetal conditions were identified as potentially treatable in utero. Most therapeutic procedures are “palliative” and does not address the underlying cause. The aim is to “buy” sufficient time to deliver the baby at a gestational age which will improve survival. All fetuses prenatally treated will require neonatal support . A perinatal team consisting of the fetal medicine specialist, Obstetrician, neonatologist , neonatal surgeon and the relevant neonatal subspecialists must work together in unison to optimize outcome. Delivery must be performed in a place with adequate infrastructure to handle these babies .

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