Breakthrough Fetal Brain Surgery Prevents Heart Failure and Treats Vascular Malformation.
Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital collaborated to perform the first-ever fetal brain surgery in the US, repairing a vein of Galen malformation in a 34-week-old fetus. The surgery prevented a deadly developmental condition and the baby was born healthy two days later. The success of the surgery could lead to a more proactive approach in managing the condition, preventing heart failure before birth rather than reversing it after birth.