Procedures and Treatments

Fetal therapy is a rapidly developing science. Our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program experts are at the forefront of this knowledge. We participate in ongoing research projects involving standardization and optimization of prenatal imaging through the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet). This is an association of fetal centers in the United States and Canada with expertise in multidisciplinary care and interventions for complex fetal disorders, and members collaborate to advance care and improve outcomes.

Also, we are one of only nine hospitals in the U.S. that are participating in the Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy (RAFT) ground-breaking trial. The goal is to determine the feasibility, safety, and success of serial amnioinfusions for bilateral fetal renal agenesis or early-onset fetal renal failure.

Treatments we offer, at a glance

Some rare and severe conditions may require specialized treatment and maternal-fetal surgery even before the baby is born. Our Fetal and Pregnancy Health team of experts can provide the most advanced therapy for the mother and fetus:

• Amnioinfusion and amnioreduction (including amnioinfusion for early pregnancy renal anhydramnios (EPRA) through our RAFT clinical trials)
• Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and fetal transfusion of blood and platelets
• Fetal shunt placement for fetal bladder obstruction, hydrothorax, and lung masses
• Fetal thoracentesis
• Fetoscopic laser ablation of shared placental anastomoses (for twin-twin transfusion)
• Fetoscopic surgery and open fetal surgery for neural tube defects
• Treatment for fetal cardiac arrhythmias
• Multidisciplinary management of placenta accreta, increta, percreta
• Selective fetal reduction for complex twins
• Treatment for fetal infections
• Treatment for fetal lung masses
• Immediate postnatal access to cardiac treatment (IMPACT)
• Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) and other complex delivery procedures