Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies 1st in Florida to Perform In Utero Surgery

For Akosua Taylor, the Fetal Care Center at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies provided the hope and answers she was searching for.

After a routine ultrasound led to a diagnosis of spina bifida for Akosua's unborn baby, she reached out to the Central Florida spina bifida community and learned that Orlando Health started a spina bifida fetal surgery program.

Headed by pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Samer Elbabaa and maternal-fetal medicine specialists Dr. Cole Greves and Dr. Gregory Locksmith this is the first such program in Florida and one of only 12 in the country. And though Akosua's surgery was the first at Orlando Health, knowing that Dr. Elbabaa had performed 65 in utero spina bifida surgeries in his career was reassuring.

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that can damage the baby's spinal cord and can cause walking disability, bowel and bladder disorders, and accumulation of fluid in the brain. While not a cure for spina bifida, studies have shown that fetal surgery performed before the baby is born can significantly reduce the need for a spinal shunt at birth to drain excess fluid, and improve mobility and leg function. Through an incision in the uterus, the surgical team closed the hole in Akosua's baby's back to prevent additional damage to the exposed spinal cord.

The successful surgery took place on May 23, 2018, and about seven weeks later, baby Celeste entered the world at 4 pounds, 10 ounces. When she was born, she cried and did everything a healthy baby is supposed to do.

Thus far, Celeste hasn't needed a shunt and has shown no signs of bowel or bladder problems. Now home, Celeste's care will continue through the Spina Bifida Clinic at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

To learn more about the Fetal Care Center at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer, visit WinniePalmerHospital.com/FetalCare.


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