First-ever successful fetal brain surgery performed in the womb.

Doctors from Boston Children's Hospital and the Brigham and Women's Hospital collaborated on a trial to treat vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) for a fetus, which included performing brain surgery while the fetus was still in the womb. The baby was born in March and did not require any further treatment. VOGM is a rare blood vessel abnormality inside the brain that can cause heart failure if left untreated. This procedure was the first attempt at the treatment and is being conducted on around 20 babies. There were no negative effects on the baby's brain.