Khalifa Medical succeeds in performing laparoscopic surgery on a 25-week-old fetus

A specialized medical team at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, affiliated with SEHA, one of the facilities of the PureHealth Group, succeeded in performing a complex fetal surgery inside the womb using laparoscopy to repair the spina bifida defect in a 25-week-old fetus weighing 800 grams, within the framework of the Visiting Doctors Program launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

The operation took 90 minutes, and constituted a new medical achievement that reflects the leadership position of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as a global center in the field of health care, and its commitment to providing advanced medical services according to the highest standards of quality and innovation in various specialties.

The Visiting Doctors Program aims to enhance the exchange of knowledge and experiences with leading medical experts from around the world.

Spina bifida is a birth defect caused by the spine and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord not closing properly during the early stages of pregnancy, which can lead to neurological disorders and long-term disabilities.

The process began with the Corniche Hospital team performing a surgical incision similar to a caesarean section to carefully reach the uterus while keeping its wall intact. This critical part was carried out with high precision to avoid stimulating premature birth and ensure a safe and sterile environment around the fetus.

The medical team was able to create a controlled environment to perform the delicate operation, using ultrasound imaging technology to precisely determine the location of the fetus, after which the pediatric surgery team from Sheikh Khalifa Medical City began repairing the defect in the fetus’ spine using precise tools and advanced techniques, through which the opening was closed to protect the exposed nerves and spinal cord, which contributes to improving the child’s functions after birth.

The surgery was performed using modern and advanced laparoscopic techniques that enabled the surgical team to work through very small incisions. Only three incisions, each no more than three millimeters long, were used to complete the operation with high precision and minimal surgical intervention, which contributed to accelerating recovery and reducing the risk of complications, while maintaining the ideal uterine environment during the recovery period.

Dr. Adel Ali Al-Junaibi, consultant pediatric surgeon at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said that this achievement reflects the importance of early surgical intervention in improving the lives of fetuses suffering from spina bifida, explaining that repairing spina bifida before birth greatly improves the results of the condition in the long term, as it reduces the risk of paralysis and neurological complications, and reduces the need for multiple operations after birth, indicating that Early intervention gives the child a better opportunity to walk independently and live a more active and integrated life.

For his part, Dr. Werner Gerhard Diehl, a fetal medicine consultant at the Corniche Hospital affiliated with SEHA, confirmed that the operation represents a qualitative leap in fetal medicine using intrauterine laparoscopy, indicating that this type of surgery is performed to correct the defect before birth, and if it is performed early, it contributes to improving the child’s movement and reducing neurological complications without increasing the risks to the mother.

He added that this delicate procedure requires careful planning, close cooperation between several medical specialties, and high precision in implementation, pointing out that the Fetal Medicine Center at Corniche Hospital has performed more than 500 therapeutic interventions to date with results that match international standards, which has established its position as one of the most prominent fetal care centers in the UAE and the region.