Abu Dhabi: An Indian-origin doctor living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) created history by successfully performing a highly complex surgery to correct a spinal defect in a 24-week-old baby born in the womb of a South American woman. Have given. Renowned fetal medicine specialist Dr. Mandeep Singh, who has his roots in Mumbai, led a team of doctors in performing a highly complex surgery at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. He has become the first Indian-origin doctor to perform such a complex surgery. A Colombian patient underwent rare open spina bifida surgery at the Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine and Therapy Center at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi in hopes of preventing short- and long-term complications for her baby. Dr. Mandeep Singh, Consultant, Fetal Medicine & Obstetrics at Burjeel Medical City and CEO of Burjeel Faraha (Department of women and children) in utero fetal to correct spinal cord defect in a 24-week-old baby Had surgery.
He is one of the few surgeons in the world trained to repair in-utero spina bifida. Dr. Singh, who is considered to be the ‘Father of Fetal Medicine’, Prof. Trained under Kypros Nicolaides. He has worked as a Consultant at the Institute of Fetal Medicine and Research at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London. Spina bifida is a congenital defect. It occurs when the bones of the spine are not fully formed and this causes the spinal cord to come in contact with the amniotic fluid, resulting in a permanent disability. The condition often carries a risk of permanent loss of bowel and bladder control, paralysis, or weakness of the muscles of both lower limbs. To eliminate this deficiency found in the spine, uterine repair is done after 19-25 weeks of pregnancy, which gives better results. Globally, the incidence of spina bifida is 1 in 1,000.
Dr. Singh led a six-member medical team to conduct the highly advanced surgery at the Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine and Therapy Center in Burjeel Medical City. The physicians on this team specialize in high-risk maternity and delivery care. Dr. Singh, who has worked there for 22 years after training in the UK.
Dr. Singh said, “We use a synthetic patch to cover this defect. Amniotic fluid is then poured into the cavity and the uterus is closed back up. The baby will remain in the womb for the rest of the pregnancy and then a caesarean section will be done after 37 weeks of pregnancy.” The mother is in a stable condition and is due to give birth in August at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. After birth, a specialist team of neonatologists, pediatric urologists and pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitation teams will review the baby’s condition and plan his care.
In-utero spina bifida repair is not readily available everywhere and there are only about 14 centers worldwide that perform this complex surgery. Couples from Asia and South America usually travel to the United States and Europe to seek medical care for such a condition. But according to families it costs a lot of money. Liz Valentina Parra Rodríguez and Jason Mateo Moreno Gutierrez, a Colombian couple who traveled to Abu Dhabi to get the best treatment for their unborn child, said, “We were shocked after a routine scan at 20 weeks. We learned that our baby’s spine was not forming properly. The option of terminating the pregnancy was also discussed with us but we believe in miracles and also believe that life is a gift from God. Our doctor suggested that the best course of action might be to get her spina bifida surgery done before the baby is born.”
Advanced Fetal Care
According to Dr. Singh, this procedure is not a cure, but it can make a big difference in the life of the baby after birth. Dr Singh said, “In-utero repair of spina bifida minimizes limb motor function loss and improves outcomes. After delivery, the baby requires follow-up and, in some cases, may undergo physiotherapy and other medical assessments to ensure their well-being.” A baby born with spina bifida can have a range of complications if left untreated in the womb and depending on the severity of the condition. These can lead to a variety of complications such as loss of strength in the muscles of the legs as well as loss of bowel and bladder control.
Despite all these risks, fetal surgery can improve the condition of babies. Dr Singh said, “In-utero spina bifida repair is a state-of-the-art treatment that has the potential to improve the condition of babies to a great extent. I am hopeful that by collaborating with institutions and experts in India, we can increase access to such advanced treatments in the country, thereby eliminating the need to travel abroad.”
About Burjeel Medical City
Burjeel Medical City is a 400-bed multi-specialty hospital and quaternary care center located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It provides high quality specialized treatment and complex care in over 40 adult and pediatric specialties supported by an international team. Visit for more details.
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