Key facts
- Doctors performed groundbreaking surgery on an unborn baby to correct gastroschisis.
- The procedure took place while the baby, Theo, was still inside his mother, Maisie Savage, at 26 weeks gestation.
- Theo is the third baby globally to benefit from this first-of-its-kind clinical trial.
- The surgery involved partially exposing the mother's womb and using keyhole surgery to reposition the baby's organs.
- Theo is now five months old and thriving, with his parents describing him as a 'miracle'.
Doctors have successfully performed groundbreaking surgery on an unborn baby to correct gastroschisis, a condition where the intestines grow outside the body due to improper belly button development. The procedure was carried out on five-month-old Theo while he was still inside his mother, Maisie Savage, at 26 weeks gestation.
Maisie, 29, and Theo's father, Josh French, 36, were initially unaware of the defect until a 20-week scan. After being prepared for the challenges of the condition by specialists at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, they were referred to Texas Children's Hospital for a clinical trial led by Dr. Michael Belfort. The trial aims to repair complex gastroschisis before birth.
As part of the trial, Maisie first traveled to Belgium for a Botox injection to relax Theo's abdominal muscles. She then flew to Texas for the surgery, which involved partially exposing her womb and using keyhole techniques to gently push Theo's organs back inside his abdomen. The procedure was completed without complications, and Theo was born vaginally in February. He is now thriving, with his parents expressing immense relief and gratitude.
Dr. Belfort described the results as remarkable and expressed optimism about the future potential of in-utero surgery for various conditions, including cardiac and lung surgeries. Plans are in place for Great Ormond Street Hospital to potentially offer the procedure in the UK if the trial continues to be successful.