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KFSHRC: Middle East's First In-Utero Endoscopic Surgery Corrects Fetal Spinal Cord Defect

Spina bifida is a common congenital defect worldwide, affecting 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 births. - AFP
Spina bifida is a common congenital defect worldwide, affecting 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 births. - AFP
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KFSHRC: Middle East's First In-Utero Endoscopic Surgery Corrects Fetal Spinal Cord Defect

Spina bifida is a common congenital defect worldwide, affecting 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 births. - AFP
Spina bifida is a common congenital defect worldwide, affecting 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 births. - AFP

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh successfully performed life-changing surgery on a 26-week-old fetus correcting a congenital spinal defect. This pioneering procedure, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was carried out using fetal endoscopic surgery, providing the family with newfound hope and relief, according to SPA. The early intervention not only aims to enhance the baby's future health and development but also reduces the likelihood of complex surgeries after birth. The mother, who has shown remarkable resilience and strength, has been discharged in good health and will continue her pregnancy under careful medical supervision.
The medical team performed the intrauterine procedure to keep the fetus in the womb for the remainder of the pregnancy, enhancing its chances of healthy development. The operation involved the use of a fetal endoscope, creating three small incisions in the uterus, each no more than 2 millimeters, at the site of the fetus's back. The fetus was monitored using ultrasound throughout the surgery, and the congenital defect was successfully repaired, ensuring the spinal cord is now fully protected.
Commenting on this success, Dr. Saud Alshanafey, the lead surgeon and Director of the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Program, stated, "This achievement reflects significant medical advancements in fetal surgery and highlights KFSHRC's commitment to providing the highest standards of healthcare to improve the quality of life for fetuses and their families in the Kingdom and beyond." He explained that the traditional approach for spina bifida involves performing surgery on the child after birth to prevent infections in the nervous system. However, this method may not completely prevent neurological complications arising from the exposure of the spinal cord during pregnancy.
Dr. Saud Alshanafey pointed out that the novelty of this procedure lies in repairing the congenital defect using a minimally invasive fetal endoscope through incisions no larger than 2 millimeters, avoiding the need to open the uterus, which positively impacts the health of the mother and the pregnancy.
Spina bifida is a common congenital defect worldwide, affecting 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 births. It results in the exposure of the spinal cord to amniotic fluid, affecting the nerves of the lower limbs, bladder, and lower digestive system, potentially accompanied by hydrocephalus, leading to movement disorders, neurological dysfunctions, and urinary issues.
Spina bifida occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly in the fetus due to the incomplete closure of the neural tube, which is responsible for developing the fetal brain, spinal cord, and associated tissues during the early weeks of pregnancy.
It is noteworthy that King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally, in the list of the world's top 250 Academic Medical Centres for the second consecutive year and recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. Additionally, in the same year, it was ranked among the world's best 250 hospitals by Newsweek magazine.

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3 Hikers Die in Utah Parks as Temperatures Hit Triple Digits

(FILES) The view from the Grand View Point Outlook in the Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah on April 24, 2018. (Photo by Mark Ralston / AFP)
(FILES) The view from the Grand View Point Outlook in the Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah on April 24, 2018. (Photo by Mark Ralston / AFP)
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3 Hikers Die in Utah Parks as Temperatures Hit Triple Digits

(FILES) The view from the Grand View Point Outlook in the Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah on April 24, 2018. (Photo by Mark Ralston / AFP)
(FILES) The view from the Grand View Point Outlook in the Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah on April 24, 2018. (Photo by Mark Ralston / AFP)

Three hikers died over the weekend in suspected heat-related cases at state and national parks in Utah, including a father and daughter who got lost on a strenuous hike in Canyonlands National Park in triple-digit temperatures.
The daughter, 23, and her father, 52, sent a 911 text alerting dispatchers that they were lost and had run out of water while hiking the 8.1 miles (13 kilometers) Syncline Loop, described by the National Park Service as the most challenging trail in the Island in the Sky district of the southeast Utah park. The pair set out Friday to navigate steep switchbacks and scramble through boulder fields with limited trail markers as the air temperature surpassed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
Park rangers and a helicopter crew with the Bureau of Land Management began their search for the lost hikers in the early evening Friday, but found them already dead. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office identified them on Monday as Albino Herrera Espinoza and his daughter, Beatriz Herrera, of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Due to the jagged terrain, safety officials used a helicopter to airlift the bodies out of the park and to the state medical examiner on Saturday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Their deaths are being investigated as heat-related by the local sheriff and the National Park Service, The Associated Press reported.
Later Saturday, first responders in southwest Utah responded to a call about two hikers “suffering from a heat related incident” at Snow Canyon State Park, which is known for its lava tubes, sand dunes and a canyon carved from red and white Navajo Sandstone.
A multi-agency search team found and treated two hikers who were suffering from heat exhaustion. While they were treating those individuals, a passing hiker informed them of an unconscious person nearby. First responders found the 30-year-old woman dead, public safety officials said.
Her death is being investigated by the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department. She has not been identified publicly.
Tourists continue to flock to parks in Utah and other southwestern states during the hottest months of the year, even as officials caution that hiking in extreme heat poses serious health risks.
A motorcyclist died earlier this month in Death Valley National Park in eastern California, and another motorcyclist was taken to a hospital for severe heat illness. Both were part of a group that rode through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather.
The air temperature in Death Valley reached at least 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) for nine consecutive days July 4-12 — the park’s longest streak at or above that temperature since the early 1900s, the National Park Service announced Monday. Now, parts of the park are experiencing a multiday power outage triggered by a thunderstorm as temperatures continue to linger just above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).
Late last month, a Texas man died while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park, where summer temperatures on exposed parts of the trails can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Elsewhere on Monday, authorities said a 61-year-old man was found dead inside his motor home in eastern Washington state. The man likely died Wednesday when the temperature in the area reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius), Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary said.
Authorities also suspected heat in the death of an 81-year-old man Saturday in Oregon but have released no further details. His death brings the state's tally of suspected heat-related deaths to 17 since the July 4 weekend, The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com reported.