Fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is a condition that occurs when the baby’s urethra, the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body during urination (Figure 1), becomes partially or completely blocked.
Kare 11 shares the touching story of Alexa Mendoza, a toddler who was one of only about a dozen babies in the world to have survived a rare open fetal surgery to remove a tumor while still in her mother’s womb. Children’s Minnesota is one of just a few hospitals across the country that is able to perform this complex and risky procedure.
Margaret had her first open heart surgery at just five months old. Now two years old she continues to fight and become a healthy and happy toddler.
February is American Heart Month! This month, we are celebrating some of our amazing cardiovascular (CV) patients and families who have a special place in our hearts.
A lymphatic (lim-FA-tik) malformation, sometimes called a lymphangioma (lim-fan-gee-OH-ma) or cystic hygroma (SIS-tik hi-GROH-ma), is a non-cancerous growth that contains one or more sacs, or cysts, of clear fluid (lymph). The growths can appear anywhere on a baby’s body, but are most often found on the neck or head (Figures 1 and 2) or in the armpits (axilla) (Figure 3). They usually develop before birth, although they may not become visible for up to the baby’s second birthday or sometimes even later.
Children's is proud to announce the honoring of Joseph B. Lillegard, MD, PhD, inaugural chair holder of the Dr. Jim Sidman Endowed Chair in Fetal Research, and Brad A. Feltis, MD, PhD, inaugural chair holder of the Dr. Carol L. Wells Endowed Chair in Fetal Surgery.
Hydrops fetalis (HIGH-drops fee-TAH-lis) is a life-threatening condition in which abnormal amounts of fluid accumulate in two or more body areas of an unborn baby. Although the fluid buildup may appear anywhere in the baby’s body, it most often occurs in the abdomen, around the heart or lungs, or under the skin. Other symptoms of the condition include higher-than-normal amounts of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) and a thickening of the placenta.
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (also referred to as fetal growth restriction, or FGR) describes a condition in which the unborn baby is smaller than expected for his or her gestational age, or the number of weeks that the baby has been in the uterus. The term for a newborn baby who is smaller than expected is small for gestational age (SGA).
Highlights from the 2017 Fetal to Neonatal Care Conference: Advances in Therapies for Mother and Baby
The first Fetal to Neonatal Care conference, hosted by Midwest Fetal Care Center, brought together experts in fetal and perinatal medicine to promote knowledge of advanced interventions and therapies. Read more for a few highlights.
Urinary tract dilation occurs when part of the unborn baby’s urinary tract swells (dilates) abnormally with excessive amounts of urine. The swelling is often caused by a blockage or narrowing of the urinary tract, which stops or slows the urine from leaving the baby’s body. Usually, the swelling goes away on its own, either during the pregnancy or after the baby is born. In more severe cases, which are uncommon, the condition can lead to low levels of amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios).