Why choose CHOP for fetal surgery for spina bifida
Pioneers in fetal surgery for spina bifida
Fetal surgery is a big decision for your family. At the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we have the expertise and experience to perform the most complex surgical procedures while your baby is still in the womb.
Our fetal surgery program is dedicated to meeting the needs of your family as you deal with an uncertain future for your unborn baby. When you're looking into where to go for fetal surgery for spina bifida, think about these factors.
Experienced multidisciplinary team
Surgeons at CHOP's Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment are pioneers in fetal surgery. We have the greatest collective experience in the world. Led by N. Scott Adzick, MD, MMM, the center team pioneered the technique for fetal repair of myelomeningocele (MMC). We performed our first fetal MMC repair in 1998.
The center has a large team that has worked together since 1995. No other team has this level of ongoing collaboration. Our team includes:
- Fetal surgeons
- Neurosurgeons
- Maternal and fetal anesthesiologists
- Fetal cardiologists
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Neonatologists
- Advanced practice operating room nurses
- Labor and delivery nurses
- Neonatal surgery nurses
As of October 2024, our team has performed more than 473 fetal surgeries for myelomeningocele (MMC). More than 3,049 patients with suspected MMC have been referred to our center since we opened in 1995.
In this video, meet the surgeons and other experts who will care for you and your baby. Hear them explain the benefits of spina bifida surgery before birth, the team that's needed to perform this complex procedure and the support services CHOP offers families who have surgery here.
Following fetal surgery guidelines
Fetal surgery is a very complex procedure. It takes a team with special expertise that follows the highest standards for patient safety.
We stick to strict criteria to determine if patients qualify for prenatal repair of MMC. We follow the guidelines for fetal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair laid out by the MMC Maternal-Fetal Management Task Force. A member of our team was on the task force and helped develop these guidelines.
The guidelines were created to ensure patients who need fetal surgery for MMC get the highest level of care. The guidelines explain the experience and services needed to be an established fetal therapy center. They also discuss requirements for surgical management, long-term care, counseling and outcomes reporting.
Advancing spina bifida care through research
In 2011, our experts co-led the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS). This was a landmark clinical trial. It showed that fetal surgery for spina bifida can improve outcomes for families faced with this devastating condition.
The study showed that prenatal repair:
- Greatly reduces the need to divert fluid from the brain
- Improves mobility
- Improves the chances that a child will be able to walk on their own
Researchers followed MOMS patients for up to 10 years after birth. In 2020, their findings showed significant physical and emotional benefits in school-age children who received corrective surgery in the womb for MMC.
Follow-up studies continue today. They allow clinical teams to compare the lasting outcomes of prenatal repair versus postnatal repair. These studies rely on participation from patient families and institutions involved in the original trial. They will give us valuable insight into the long-term effects of the latest treatment options for spina bifida. This will help us improve care for patients today and in the future.
In addition to this landmark trial, our team members have had other spina bifida research findings published in scientific journals. This helps continue to grow knowledge on this condition.
Patient outcomes
Learn about key outcomes and measures of success in fetal repair of spina bifida and see how CHOP's experience compares.
Coordinated care in one location
Keeping you at ease and feeling supported is important to us. All of your care will be provided in one comfortable, family-centered location. Every detail of our space has been designed with your medical and emotional well-being in mind. This leads to the best outcomes for you and your baby.
- Our Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit (SDU) is the world’s first birth facility designed for healthy mothers carrying babies with birth defects. Delivering within a pediatric hospital is a game changer. It gives both you and your baby access to expert care before, during and after birth. The SDU is fully equipped and staffed to manage the delicate delivery required after fetal surgery for spina bifida.
- Our Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU) is one of the best in the nation. The N/IICU team has experience caring for babies who have had fetal surgery for spina bifida.
- Our Spina Bifida Program offers all the follow-up care your child will need as they grow.
Access to top pediatric specialists
Children who have fetal surgery for spina bifida need specialized care after birth. At CHOP, you have direct access to every pediatric subspecialty your child may need as they grow.
CHOP is consistently ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This means your child will receive the best care available in the country from experts in orthopedics, urology, physical therapy, radiology and more.
Record-Breaking Milestone
The birth of CHOP's 2,000th fetal surgery patient marks a record-breaking milestone for CHOP’s Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.
Support services for your family
From the moment you become our patient, we surround you with support. Every member of our team is deeply committed to making this experience as easy as possible for your entire family.
We offer many services to help you and your family overcome any barriers to care and cope with your baby's diagnosis and treatment. We can also connect you with additional resources closer to your home.
- Before you make your decision about fetal surgery, we have a thorough counseling session. We will explain every detail of the experience and answer all of your questions.
- We have a dedicated psychosocial service team. This team includes a clinical psychologist and social workers. They offer emotional support, counseling and other services.
- Our team works with insurance plans to help families access our services. We also have resources available to assist with travel-related expenses. We will talk with you about your needs.