Fetal Surgery and Second Opinions: A Lifesaving Miracle in Modern Medicine

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• The Initial Diagnosis: A Devastating Prognosis
• Seeking a Second Opinion: A New Path to Hope
• The Groundbreaking Fetal Surgery Procedure
• The Miraculous Outcome: A Baby Born Twice
• Impact on the Medical Community
• The Human Element in Medicine
• Importance of Trusting the Right Experts

The Initial Diagnosis: A Devastating Prognosis

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, recounts a powerful story that began with a routine 12-week prenatal ultrasound. The ultrasound technician's unusual silence was the first clue that something was terribly wrong. The obstetrician delivered a devastating prognosis: the fetus had a massive sacrococcygeal teratoma, a benign tumor at the base of the spine that was the same size as the baby itself. This tumor was stealing half of the baby's blood supply, causing the heart to work at double its normal capacity. The medical team concluded the heart would fail and recommended termination of the pregnancy.

Seeking a Second Opinion: A New Path to Hope

The parents, faced with an unthinkable decision, chose to seek a second opinion. This crucial step led them to a fetal surgery expert at the University of Texas fetal center. This specialist reviewed the case and presented a radical alternative: an attempt at life-saving fetal surgery. Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, emphasizes that this story highlights the profound importance of not accepting a single, dire prognosis without consulting another highly specialized expert.

The Groundbreaking Fetal Surgery Procedure

The complex in-utero procedure was a feat of medical collaboration and innovation. The surgical team, which included a pediatric cardiologist on standby, made an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. They partially delivered the fetus, leaving its head inside the womb for protection. Surgeons then successfully removed 90% of the massive teratoma. During the operation, the fetal heart went into cardiac arrest, but the attending cardiologist was able to resuscitate the unborn baby immediately.

The Miraculous Outcome: A Baby Born Twice

After the tumor was resected, the medical team faced another challenge: all the amniotic fluid had drained. They had prepared for this by creating a synthetic amniotic fluid with the precise pH, glucose, and electrolytes needed. They injected this solution into the uterus, which held without leaking. The baby was placed back inside, the incisions were sutured, and the pregnancy continued. At 37 weeks, the baby was delivered via Cesarean section, healthy and whole—a child who had literally been born twice.

Impact on the Medical Community

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, notes that the fetal surgeon who performed this miracle was subsequently interviewed on NPR. Following the broadcast, he received hundreds of calls from obstetricians worldwide who had never dared to attempt such a procedure. They asked to come train with him and watch his surgical videos. This case, as presented by Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, demonstrates how a single act of medical courage can inspire and advance an entire field of medicine.

The Human Element in Medicine

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, uses this story to underscore a vital point: medicine is not practiced by technology or gadgets, but by people. It is human intuition, careful listening, and courageous hunches that lead to solving complex medical problems. The fetal surgeon had only attempted this procedure once before, five years prior. That first patient was a beautiful five-year-old girl whose recital he attended, moved to tears by the outcome. This human connection is the heart of healing.

Importance of Trusting the Right Experts

The overarching lesson from Dr. Chopra's narrative is the critical combination of seeking a second opinion and ensuring it comes from the right expert. Finding a specialist with the specific knowledge, skill, and courage to attempt a novel treatment is often the difference between hope and despair. This story, as told by Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD, serves as a powerful testament to the miracles that are possible in modern medicine when patients advocate for themselves and place their trust in pioneering experts.

Full Transcript

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, MD: This is a very important point. It underscores that so many people start to think that people are being treated by gadgets, by technology, by blinking lights. But the truth is this: it is humans who treat humans. It is people who, by careful listening, deduce and have the hunches about solving medical problems.

Absolutely! One of my favorite stories these days—I heard this on NPR a few months ago. I was driving early in the morning to work. It was so impressive, I pulled over to the side of the road. I said, "I have to hear this story." It is about the baby that was born twice.

You heard this? This woman goes to see her obstetrician at 12 weeks—she's gone earlier. The ultrasound technician is very quiet, so she can sense there is something wrong. After a while—because normally they say, "Oh, healthy baby, kicking the legs, heart is beating nicely!"—the ultrasound technician is just very quiet.

She says, "I'm going to go get the obstetrician." The obstetrician comes and he looks at the ultrasound and says, "I'm sorry to tell you that there is a gigantic tumor at the tail of the spine. It is likely a benign tumor called sacrococcygeal teratoma, but it is the same size as the rest of the baby. The heart is beating twice as hard and half the blood supply is going to this tumor. The heart is going to conk out; baby's not going to survive. We recommend an abortion."

They leave and they decide to go for a second opinion. They go to the University of Texas fetal center. There is an obstetrician there. He says, "We can try something." They give permission. They take the mother to the operating room; he has a pediatric cardiologist in attendance. In anticipation, he makes an incision in the abdomen and the uterus, pulls out the baby—the head is still in the uterus—removes 90% of the teratoma.

The heart goes into cardiac arrest. Pediatric neonatal cardiologist administers medicines and resuscitates the unborn baby. Baby survives. They put the baby back into the uterus, suture. All the amniotic fluid has drained out; they have figured out synthetic amniotic fluid. They take a syringe, inject right pH chemistry, glucose, electrolytes—no leak.

After 37 weeks of pregnancy, baby is born by C-section. Baby that was born twice—came out of the womb, went back, came out. He's interviewed on NPR; he's getting hundreds of calls from obstetricians all over the world. "We have never had the courage to do this! Can we come train with you? Can we watch your video?" He said, "Sure."

He's asked, "Have you ever done it before?" He says, "Once, five years ago." The anchor says, "What happened?" He says, "She's a beautiful five-year-old girl. She recently performed on stage; her parents invited me. I sat in the front row with the parents. She came on stage and she did a recital." He said, "I had tears streaming down my cheek."

With all the stem cell transplants, organ transplants, ICU care, cardiac devices—this is an amazing story in medicine! Speaking of importance of finding the right expert: seeking second opinion, but also an opinion with the right expert! Trusting that expert! It is an amazing story. Baby that was born twice!