Print Departments and specialties Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery. Departments with related expertise Children's Center Fetal and maternal care in Minnesota Neurosurgery Obstetrics and Gynecology Pediatrics Areas that research this procedure Neurologic Surgery ResearchMayo Clinic is a pioneer in fetal surgery advances, allowing for earlier treatment when health problems are diagnosed before birth. A key example is a clinical trial for prenatal surgery to promote lung growth before babies are born. These fetuses have a life-threatening disorder called pulmonary hypoplasia. A diaphragmatic hernia present at birth and fetal lungs that are too small for babies to breathe on their own cause this condition. The goal is to develop regenerative approaches to make lung development and outcomes better. Mayo experts continue to study how to lower the risks of fetal surgery and make surgical approaches and outcomes better for mothers and their children. PublicationsSee a list of publications about fetal surgery by Mayo Clinic authors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine. By Mayo Clinic Staff Fetal surgery care at Mayo Clinic Request an appointment AboutCare at Mayo Clinic Nov. 20, 2024 Print Show references Ruano R, et al. Fetal surgery: How recent technological advancements are extending its applications. Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2019; doi:10.1080/17434440.2019.1641404. Rintoul NE, et al. Fetal intervention and surgery. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Lockwood CJ, et al., eds. Invasive fetal therapy. In: Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Ruano R, et al. Regenerative Prophylaxis In Utero. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2019; doi:10.1002/cpt.1262. Winn HR, ed. Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele. In: Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Baumgarten HD, et al. Fetal surgery. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2018.12.001. Nassr AA, et al. Outcome of fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction and normal amniotic fluid volume in the second trimester of pregnancy: A single center experience. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019; doi:10.1002/uog.20288. Martin RJ, et al., eds. Surgical treatment of the fetus. In: Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: Diseases of the Fetus and Infant. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Chestnut DH, et al., eds. Antepartum fetal assessment and therapy. In: Chestnut's Obstetric Anesthesia: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Paidas Teefey C, et al. Maternal fetal surgery: Intervention and management. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020; doi:10.1097/GRF.0000000000000534. Townsend CM Jr, et al. Fetal surgery. In: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Goodnight WH, et al. Subsequent pregnancy outcomes after open maternal-fetal surgery for myelomeningocele. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.03.008. Olutoye II OO, et al. Minimally invasive fetal surgery and the next frontier. Neoreviews. 2023; doi:10.1542/neo.24-2-e67. Evans LL, et al. Modern fetal surgery — A historical review of the happenings that shaped modern fetal surgery and its practices. Translational Pediatrics. 2021; doi:10.21037/tp-20-114. Miller R. Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Lissauer T, et al. Perinatal medicine. In: Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 1, 2024. Ahn ES (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Aug. 30, 2024. Related Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) Spina bifida Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy Fetal surgeryAboutDoctors&DepartmentsCare atMayoClinic PRC-20155115 Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures Fetal surgery