Fetus was Saved by a Tumor Operation in the Womb

In what has been described as a world’s first procedure, a fetus was saved by a tumor operation in the womb.

Fetus was Saved by a Tumor Operation in the Womb – photo by BBC

After being a little over four months along in her pregnancy, Tammy Gonzalez found the horrifying news that her unborn child had a very rare tumour called an oral teratoma, where there was very little chance her daughter’s survival. However, flash forward to five months later, and her newborn Leyna is as healthy as can be. 

The incredible procedure took place at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida, where doctors said this type of tumour was so rare it had been seen only once in 20 years at the hospital. 

According to BBC, in the hour long procedure, Mrs Gonzalez was put under a local anaesthetic as a needle was pushed through the protective amniotic sac around the foetus, where doctors then proceeded to use a laser to cut the tumour from Leyna’s lips.  

Thanks to this newly developed life saving operation, Leyna Mykaella Gonzalez was born in October 2010 weighing 8lb 1oz and is now a healthy 20-month-old child, where only tiny scar on her mouth is visible.

The details of the procedure are found in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Fetus was Saved by a Tumor Operation in the Womb.