Review article

https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2025_332187

Fetal Surgery: Achievements and Challenges of Contemporary Medicine

Marko Bašković orcid.org/0000-0003-4218-6184 ; Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb, Klinika za dječju kirurgiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Znanstveni centar izvrsnosti za reproduktivnu i regenerativnu medicinu (CERRM), Zagreb, Hrvatska; Akademija medicinskih znanosti Hrvatske, Zagreb, Hrvatska *
Božidar Župančić ; Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb, Klinika za dječju kirurgiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska; Akademija medicinskih znanosti Hrvatske, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Luca Zaninović ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Znanstveni centar izvrsnosti za reproduktivnu i regenerativnu medicinu (CERRM), Zagreb, Hrvatska; Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb, Klinika za ženske bolesti i porode, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dubravko Habek orcid.org/0000-0002-7675-7064 ; Akademija medicinskih znanosti Hrvatske, Zagreb, Hrvatska; Klinička bolnica Merkur, Klinika za ženske bolesti i porode, Zagreb, Hrvatska; Hrvatsko katoličko sveučilište, Medicinski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Fetal surgery is a field of surgery whose procedures are performed on an unborn
child in the womb to improve the long-term outcome of children with specific birth defects.
As these defects often worsen as the fetus develops, fetal surgery performed by a team of
specialists focuses on treating and improving the condition before birth itself. Early
intervention using fetal surgery can treat life-threatening birth defects and improve
outcomes in some cases. Despite variability in practice patterns and resource availability,
results of randomized controlled trials across the developed world have led to a rapid
increase in the number of modern fetal centers. In addition to the historical review, in this
review we provide knowledge about the fetal surgical approaches to twin-to-twin
transfusion syndrome, myelomeningocele, fetal hydrocephalus, congenital diaphragmatic
hernia, congenital pulmonary airway malformation, bronchopulmonary sequestration,
bronchogenic cyst, congenital lobar emphysema, congenital high airway obstruction
syndrome, neck masses, mediastinal teratoma, sacrococcygeal teratoma, lower urinary tract
obstruction, and amniotic band syndrome.

Keywords

fetal diseases; fetoscopy; fetus; perinatology; pregnancy; surgical procedures

Hrčak ID:

332187

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/332187

Publication date:

1.9.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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