'LITTLE MIRACLE' Mum-to-be has womb removed then PUT BACK to fix baby’s intestines that were outside his body in pioneering new surgery

The Times of India

In a first, UK woman undergoes womb surgery to fix baby's intestines growing outside his body

Independent

First UK baby has ground-breaking surgery for rare condition while still in womb

NDTV

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Hounslow Herald

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BBC News

Woman has pioneering womb surgery to fix 'miracle' baby with intestines outside its body

The Telegraph

British Woman Has Pioneering Womb Surgery On Unborn Baby

Daily Mirror

Brit mum-to-be flew to Texas for pioneering 'lifeline' surgery on unborn baby still in womb

IsabelVSpruce

NCBI

Fetal Surgery for GastroschisisA Review with Emphasis on Minimally Invasive Procedures

The Times (UK)

Verifying Device

BBCBreakfast

Metaculus

ProfAsmaKhalil

A British baby has become the first in the U.K. to undergo fetal surgery for complex gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the abdominal wall fails to develop properly, leaving the intestines outside the body. Theo, now five months old, is the third baby worldwide to receive the experimental treatment.

A British baby has become the first in the U.K. to undergo fetal surgery for complex gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the abdominal wall fails to develop properly, leaving the intestines outside the body. Theo, now five months old, is the third baby worldwide to receive the experimental treatment.

The procedure was performed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston as part of a clinical trial run in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and KU Leuven in Belgium. It was led by Dr. Michael Belfort, who previously pioneered similar fetal surgery for spina bifida.

BBC Breakfast

The procedure was performed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston as part of a clinical trial run in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and KU Leuven in Belgium. It was led by Dr. Michael Belfort, who previously pioneered similar fetal surgery for spina bifida.

Before traveling to Texas, Theo's mother, Maisie Savage, 29, visited Leuven Hospital in Belgium, where doctors injected Botox through the womb into the baby's abdominal wall to relax the muscles ahead of surgery. The main operation was performed at 26 weeks' gestation.

Before traveling to Texas, Theo's mother, Maisie Savage, 29, visited Leuven Hospital in Belgium, where doctors injected Botox through the womb into the baby's abdominal wall to relax the muscles ahead of surgery. The main operation was performed at 26 weeks' gestation.

Surgeons partially exposed the uterus, replaced the amniotic fluid with carbon dioxide to create operating space and used keyhole surgery to reposition the baby's organs before stitching the abdomen closed. Savage carried Theo for a further 14 weeks before giving birth vaginally in Texas in February.

Surgeons partially exposed the uterus, replaced the amniotic fluid with carbon dioxide to create operating space and used keyhole surgery to reposition the baby's organs before stitching the abdomen closed. Savage carried Theo for a further 14 weeks before giving birth vaginally in Texas in February.

Gastroschisis affects around 3,000 babies born in the U.K. each year, and complex cases potentially require up to six months in neonatal intensive care, multiple surgeries and intravenous feeding for up to two years. Around one in 10 babies with the condition do not survive.

Gastroschisis affects around 3,000 babies born in the U.K. each year, and complex cases potentially require up to six months in neonatal intensive care, multiple surgeries and intravenous feeding for up to two years. Around one in 10 babies with the condition do not survive.

Prof. Paolo De Coppi of GOSH said he hoped the procedure could "become the standard operation for complex gastroschisis cases" if trial results prove positive. Dr. Belfort has also suggested the uterus could become "a new surgical space for innovation," potentially enabling cardiac and lung surgeries in utero.

Prof. Paolo De Coppi of GOSH said he hoped the procedure could "become the standard operation for complex gastroschisis cases" if trial results prove positive. Dr. Belfort has also suggested the uterus could become "a new surgical space for innovation," potentially enabling cardiac and lung surgeries in utero.

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A British baby has become the first in the UK to undergo foetal surgery for complex gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the abdominal wall fails to develop properly, leaving the intestines outside the body. Theo, now five months old, is the third baby worldwide to receive the experimental treatment.

A British baby has become the first in the UK to undergo foetal surgery for complex gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the abdominal wall fails to develop properly, leaving the intestines outside the body. Theo, now five months old, is the third baby worldwide to receive the experimental treatment.

The procedure was performed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston as part of a clinical trial run in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and KU Leuven in Belgium. It was led by Dr. Michael Belfort, who previously pioneered similar foetal surgery for spina bifida.

The procedure was performed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston as part of a clinical trial run in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and KU Leuven in Belgium. It was led by Dr. Michael Belfort, who previously pioneered similar foetal surgery for spina bifida.

Before traveling to Texas, Theo's mother, Maisie Savage, 29, visited Leuven Hospital in Belgium, where doctors injected Botox through the womb into the baby's abdominal wall to relax the muscles ahead of surgery. The main operation was carried out at 26 weeks of pregnancy.

Before traveling to Texas, Theo's mother, Maisie Savage, 29, visited Leuven Hospital in Belgium, where doctors injected Botox through the womb into the baby's abdominal wall to relax the muscles ahead of surgery. The main operation was carried out at 26 weeks of pregnancy.

Gastroschisis affects around one in 3,000 babies born in the UK each year, with complex cases potentially requiring up to six months in neonatal intensive care, multiple surgeries and intravenous feeding for up to two years. Around one in 10 babies with the condition do not survive.

Gastroschisis affects around one in 3,000 babies born in the UK each year, with complex cases potentially requiring up to six months in neonatal intensive care, multiple surgeries and intravenous feeding for up to two years. Around one in 10 babies with the condition do not survive.

Foetal gastroschisis surgery is still far too experimental to be celebrated as a breakthrough — fetal mortality rates remain significant across animal models, and no minimally invasive repair technique has proven reliably safe for human application. The most promising approaches still carry serious risks, and further research on instruments and materials is needed before any procedure becomes standard care.

Foetal gastroschisis surgery is still far too experimental to be celebrated as a breakthrough — fetal mortality rates remain significant across animal models, and no minimally invasive repair technique has proven reliably safe for human application. The most promising approaches still carry serious risks, and further research on instruments and materials is needed before any procedure becomes standard care.

Healing babies before birth rather than abandoning them is exactly the kind of medical progress worth celebrating, and this surgery proves what's possible when medicine commits to protecting life at its earliest stages. The achievement here isn't just technical — it's a moral statement about the value of every life, no matter how small or how early.

Healing babies before birth rather than abandoning them is exactly the kind of medical progress worth celebrating, and this surgery proves what's possible when medicine commits to protecting life at its earliest stages. The achievement here isn't just technical — it's a moral statement about the value of every life, no matter how small or how early.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

UK Baby First to Have Foetal Gastroschisis Surgery

UK Baby First to Have Foetal Gastroschisis Surgery

Health

Science & technology

United Kingdom

Healing babies before birth rather than abandoning them is a medical progress worth celebrating, and this surgery proves what's possible when medicine commits to protecting life at its earliest stages. The achievement here isn't just technical — but a moral statement about the value of every life, no matter how small or how early. The breakthrough could transform prenatal care, reducing lifelong risks and improving survival for babies with this rare condition.

Healing babies before birth rather than abandoning them is a medical progress worth celebrating, and this surgery proves what's possible when medicine commits to protecting life at its earliest stages. The achievement here isn't just technical — but a moral statement about the value of every life, no matter how small or how early. The breakthrough could transform prenatal care, reducing lifelong risks and improving survival for babies with this rare condition.

While Theo's recovery is inspiring, fetal gastroschisis surgery is still far too experimental to be celebrated as a breakthrough — fetal mortality rates remain significant across animal models, and no minimally invasive repair technique has proven reliably safe for human application. The most promising approaches still carry serious risks, and further research on instruments and materials is needed before any procedure becomes standard care.

While Theo's recovery is inspiring, fetal gastroschisis surgery is still far too experimental to be celebrated as a breakthrough — fetal mortality rates remain significant across animal models, and no minimally invasive repair technique has proven reliably safe for human application. The most promising approaches still carry serious risks, and further research on instruments and materials is needed before any procedure becomes standard care.

There's a 50% chance that the first successful entirely artificial extracorporeal human pregnancy will conclude before October 2043, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that the first successful entirely artificial extracorporeal human pregnancy will conclude before October 2043, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK Baby First to Have Fetal Gastroschisis Surgery

UK Baby First to Have FoetalFetal Gastroschisis Surgery

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UK Baby First to Have Fetal Gastroschisis Surgery

UK Baby First to Have FoetalFetal Gastroschisis Surgery

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