What is Fetal Therapy?

Fetal therapy encompasses a range of medical and surgical interventions aimed at treating a fetus with a specific disease or abnormality. These interventions are typically considered when the condition is likely to worsen if left untreated until delivery.

The goals of fetal therapy are: s

• To Save Life: In cases of severe fetal anemia or heart failure.
• To Protect Organs: For example, draining fluid to allow lungs or kidneys to develop properly.
• To Improve Outcomes: Reducing the need for intensive surgery or long-term disability after birth.

Key Types of Fetal Interventions

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, we utilize minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided techniques to perform these delicate procedures:

1. Fetal Blood Transfusion (IUT)

When a baby has severe anemia—often due to Rh-incompatibility (where the mother's antibodies attack the baby's blood cells)—a blood transfusion is performed in utero.

• The Procedure: Under continuous ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is passed into the umbilical vein to deliver compatible blood directly to the baby. This prevents fetal heart failure (hydrops) and allows the pregnancy to continue toward a safer delivery date.

2. Fetal Shunt Placement

Sometimes, a baby may develop an abnormal collection of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion) or the bladder (urinary tract obstruction).

• The Procedure: A small, hollow tube called a "shunt" is inserted through the mother's abdomen into the baby's body. This drains the excess fluid into the amniotic sac, allowing the baby's lungs or kidneys to expand and grow normally.

3. Medical Fetal Therapy

Not all interventions are surgical. Some conditions, such as fetal arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), can be treated by giving medications to the mother. These medications cross the placenta and stabilize the baby's heart rate.

4. Amnioreduction and Amnioinfusion

• Amnioreduction: If there is too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios), it can cause preterm labor. We carefully drain the excess fluid to reduce pressure.
• Amnioinfusion: If there is too little fluid (oligohydramnios), sterile saline can be infused to cushion the umbilical cord and allow the baby to move.

The Precision of Ultrasound Guidance

Every fetal intervention is performed using high-resolution ultrasound. This acts as the surgeon’s "eyes," allowing for sub-millimeter precision. Our specialists monitor the needle's path and the baby's heart rate in real-time to ensure the highest level of safety.

Why Choose Ashoka Women & Children Hospital?

Fetal therapy is a high-stakes field that requires an elite level of synchronization between multiple departments.

• Specialized Fetal Medicine Unit: Our clinicians have the advanced training required for intrauterine procedures, which are only offered at a few select centers in the region.
• Integrated Level III NICU: Following any intervention, our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is on standby. If the baby needs to be delivered early, they have immediate access to world-class life support.
• Maternity Care Excellence: We specialize in High-Risk Pregnancy management, ensuring the mother’s health and safety are monitored as closely as the baby’s during and after an intervention.
• Multidisciplinary Planning: Every case is reviewed by a team including fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, and paediatric surgeons to ensure a seamless transition from womb to world.

Hope for the Smallest Patients

A diagnosis that once meant a poor prognosis now often has a path to treatment. Fetal therapy provides hope where there was once only uncertainty. By treating the baby before they are born, we are giving them the best possible chance at a healthy, vibrant life.

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, we believe in healing from the very beginning.