Kourtney Kardashian, 44, said she had to undergo foetal surgery in an emotional Instagram post on Wednesday.
The Mayo Clinic notes that foetal surgery involves performing surgery on an unborn baby while still in the mother's uterus. The procedure is utilized on foetuses with specific birth defects that can be life-threatening and frequently worsen as a foetus develops. The goal of the surgery is to improve or treat birth defects before the child is born. If a doctor detects spina bifida in a foetus, surgery may help the child be significantly less disabled than they would have been without the procedure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
A number of birth defects can be improved by foetal surgery, including: amniotic band syndrome, congenital cystic adenomatoid Malformation of the lung, bronchopulmonary sequestration of the lung, congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, mediastinal teratoma, sacrococcygeal teratoma, upper urinary tract obstruction, foetal anaemia, lower urinary tract obstruction, foetal anaemia, and spina bifida, among others. Experts who specialise in these procedures are available to perform them at comprehensive health centres.
To improve or treat birth defects, there are various foetal surgery procedures, including foetal cardiacintervention, shunt placements, and intrauterine blood transfusion.
The foetus and the mother are at risk during foetal surgery, which can be dangerous for both the foetus and the mother. The uterus may burst after surgery, and complications may occur during the procedure. Also, early labor and foetal death are risk factors. There is a possibility foetal surgery won't be useful, and the birth defect detected won't be improved or treated.
Foetal therapy, a promising field in paediatric medicine, is 'one of the most promising fields in paediatric medicine', said the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Improvements in diagnostic tests and foetal imaging have given doctors the tools to recognize a foetus' condition, providing them with the tools to determine when foetal surgery may be helpful.
She did not reveal why she needed foetal surgery in her Instagram post. Winnie Harlow, models, said she was thankful for the medical care she received. Alyssa Milano, who also wrote, also contributed comments.