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Chapter 26 - Fetal Surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2025

Edited by
Camran R. Nezhat ,
Farr R. Nezhat ,
Ceana Nezhat ,
Nisha Lakhi  and
Azadeh Nezhat
Camran R. Nezhat
Affiliation:
Stanford University School of Medicine, California
Farr R. Nezhat
Affiliation:
Nezhat Surgery for Gynecology/Oncology, New York
Ceana Nezhat
Affiliation:
Nezhat Medical Center, Atlanta
Nisha Lakhi
Affiliation:
Richmond University Medical Center, New York
Azadeh Nezhat
Affiliation:
Nezhat Institute and Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, California
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Summary

The majority of surgical and medical conditions diagnosed in utero are best managed after delivery. There is a finite list of conditions that when diagnosed antenatally result in death or long-standing morbidity. This raises the possibility that treatment may be best approached prenatally. Almost 30 years ago, the International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society (IFMSS) developed the criteria for fetal surgery. The criteria as written at that time included an accurate diagnosis, a known natural history of the disease, no available effective postnatal therapy, proven efficacy of a prenatal intervention, and the requirement that interventions for the fetus would be performed in a specialized multidisciplinary center.[1] Fetal therapy has expanded since then to treat nonlethal conditions so as to reduce long-term morbidity.

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Chapter
Information
Nezhat's Textbook of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Including Hysteroscopy, Vaginoscopy and Robotic-Assisted Procedures
 , pp. 808 - 830
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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  • Fetal Surgery
  • Edited by Camran R. Nezhat, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, Farr R. Nezhat, Nezhat Surgery for Gynecology/Oncology, New York, Ceana Nezhat, Nezhat Medical Center, Atlanta, Nisha Lakhi, Richmond University Medical Center, New York, Azadeh Nezhat, Nezhat Institute and Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, California
  • Book: Nezhat's Textbook of Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Online publication: 06 November 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108561440.028
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  • Fetal Surgery
  • Edited by Camran R. Nezhat, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, Farr R. Nezhat, Nezhat Surgery for Gynecology/Oncology, New York, Ceana Nezhat, Nezhat Medical Center, Atlanta, Nisha Lakhi, Richmond University Medical Center, New York, Azadeh Nezhat, Nezhat Institute and Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, California
  • Book: Nezhat's Textbook of Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Online publication: 06 November 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108561440.028
Available formats
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  • Fetal Surgery
  • Edited by Camran R. Nezhat, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, Farr R. Nezhat, Nezhat Surgery for Gynecology/Oncology, New York, Ceana Nezhat, Nezhat Medical Center, Atlanta, Nisha Lakhi, Richmond University Medical Center, New York, Azadeh Nezhat, Nezhat Institute and Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, California
  • Book: Nezhat's Textbook of Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Online publication: 06 November 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108561440.028
Available formats
×