A milestone for fetal medicine was recently achieved in Colombia: a team of specialists successfully performed the first intrauterine fetal surgery to treat Gastroschisis, a serious congenital defect in the abdominal wall of the fetus that exposes the intestines to the amniotic fluid, compromising its development, circulation and even the baby’s life.
The intervention, performed by means of fetoscopy at the Clínica General del Norte, in Barranquilla, represents a transcendental advance for the country and the region, since it allows correcting the malformation before birth, significantly reducing the risks of intestinal loss or fetal death. This type of surgery, which has only been performed in a few high-specialty centers in the world, is now a reality in Colombia and, thanks to its inclusion in the Health Benefits Plan (PBS), it is within the reach of more families.
The team was led by Miguel Parra Saavedra, a surgeon and obstetrician-gynecologist graduated from the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), with sub-specialization in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Fetal Surgery at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. With a doctorate in Maternal Fetal Medicine from the University of Barcelona, Magna Cum Laude distinction and multiple international scientific publications, Dr. Parra Saavedra has established himself as a Latin American reference in fetal interventions.
“Gastroschisis affects between 4 and 7 out of every 10,000,000 live births and is diagnosed as early as 12 weeks of gestation. In Latin America, 1 out of every 3 children with this condition does not survive. Being able to intervene before birth fills us with hope,” expressed the physician who led the procedure.
This advance opens new possibilities for perinatal medicine in the country and positions Colombia as a reference in fetal surgery in Latin America. Life, in many cases, can now be protected before birth.
How was the intervention performed?
By planning a two-step surgical protocol to correct the malformation.
1.In January 2025 the first part of the intervention was performed, which consisted of myorelaxation of the fetal abdominal wall with botulinum toxin. This substance was applied to relax the muscles of the fetal abdomen, facilitating the safe reduction of the exposed organs and the pressure inside the baby’s abdomen, minimizing the risk of postoperative complications.
2.Months later, in week 25, the second part of the operation was performed through fetoscopy, a minimally invasive technique that allows surgery inside the uterus without the need to completely open the mother’s abdomen.
Once the surgery was completed, the mother continued her pregnancy as normal, under constant supervision of the multidisciplinary team. “For the first time in the history of medicine, a baby with a major malformation was cured in utero and was born completely healthy,” Dr. Parra said.
Ten weeks later, the baby was born by conventional vaginal delivery, in week 35. Today he is two months old and has no complications related to the gastroschisis. “This type of intrauterine surgery not only saves lives, but also represents a revolution in terms of public health due to the cost savings and reduction of complications,” Dr. Parra pointed out.
Who participated in the intervention?
Cristóbal Abello (pediatric surgeon and endoscopist), Yesid Miranda (fetal surgeon), Guido Parra (endoscopic gynecologist), William Contreras (neurosurgeon), Juan David Hernández (anesthesiologist) and Miguel Parra Saavedra (perinatologist).
A hope for health
“This is a message of hope in the midst of so much negative news. In Colombia we have talent, science and capacity. What we have done from Barranquilla shows that we can also lead medical advances that change the world”, expressed the UIS graduate.
In the coming months, Dr. Parra will present this successful case study at the World Congress of Perinatology in Prague, organized by the Fetal Medicine Foundation.
