Two VOGM Surgeries on Fetuses Successfully Performed

Surgeons both in the United States and France had the courage and skill to pull off a complex surgery on two fetuses suffering from an aneurysmal abnormality called Vein Of Galen Malformation (VOGM).
The VOGM is a congenital vascular malformation that occurs in the middle part of the brain and is caused by an improper connection between arteries and the vein of Galen. This abnormality develops throughout the embryonic phase and can be seen on ultrasound scans during the second or third trimester.
The first operation took place in France, precisely in Necker Hospital, Paris, last September. The fetus who was at 33 weeks’ gestation, faced two scenarios: death or severe disability, according to “Inter France”.
The surgery, which took less than 30 minutes, did not involve any complications either for the mother or the baby, but was followed by an embolization within the first few weeks of life. The then fetus is now a healthy baby called Lisandro.
The second surgery took place at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital last May. The doctors were able to repair the brain malformation of a 34-week fetus, reported “LiveScience”.
The girl, born in March 2023, had a prognosis of severe heart failure with 99% chance of being critically ill. She did not require any additional interventions or medications after the in-utero procedure.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), VOGM affects around one in every 60,000 babies.