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Investing in medical innovation: foetal surgery

More and more international patients come to UZ Leuven when they need foetal surgery, a operation or procedure on the unborn child. The centre for foetal surgery in Leuven is one of the biggest in Europe.

Pregnant mothers are welcome for a foetus with spina bifida, for diaphragm defects, or for splitting the placenta of identical twins with the twin transfusion syndriome. A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, gynaecologists, anaesthesiologists, neonatologists and paediatricians looks after these delicate procedures. In 1994 UZ Leuven was to first in Europe to perform keyhole surgery on an unborn child. Today there are more than 200 keyhole surgical procedures a year on foetuses. 

Immunotherapy can prevent dangerous blood transfusion in foetus

8 August 2024
A new study shows that the drug nipocalimab is a good alternative for the not harmless blood transfusion in a rhesus pregnancy: the drug ensures that the mother's antibodies can no longer go to the foetus.

Fetal surgery for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia saves lives

8 June 2021
An international research team led by the University Hospitals Leuven and the KU Leuven has completed a randomized clinical trial on surgery before birth in fetuses with a severe form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The researchers provide evidence that surgery before birth improves the chances of survival.
Last edit: 6 August 2024