A mother residing in London, United Kingdom, participated in an experimental surgical procedure in the United States that made it possible to correct a congenital anomaly in her son before birth.
Maisie Savage, 29, was operated on when she was 26 weeks pregnant. The baby, Theo, had complex gastroschisis, a malformation characterized by the complete failure of the abdominal wall to close during gestation, resulting in the development of the intestine outside the abdominal cavity.
Theo became the first British baby to undergo intrauterine surgery to treat this condition, integrating the first global clinical study focused on prenatal treatment of complex gastroschisis. He was the third baby to participate in this global study. Currently five months old, Theo was born in February via normal delivery in Texas, USA.
Gastroschisis affects approximately one in every three thousand newborns in the UK annually. Even in the most favorable scenarios, these babies often require weeks in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), tube or intravenous feeding, and corrective surgical interventions.
In cases considered complex, like Theo's, NICU stays can extend up to six months. Furthermore, the baby may require multiple surgeries, intravenous feeding for up to two years, and, in some situations, an intestinal transplant. Despite receiving high-quality medical care, one in ten of these babies dies.
Theo's parents, Josh French, 36, also a teacher, were unaware of the condition during pregnancy. The father told BBC News that during the 20-week scan, they were just anxious to see an image of the baby, without knowing it would be a boy. French described the diagnosis as a shock and an 'extremely frightening' experience.
When Theo was 24 weeks pregnant, specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London began preparing the family for the baby's first six months of life. Upon identifying the most severe form of the disease, doctors referred him to the Texas Children's Hospital, located in Houston.
In Texas, a team of pediatric and fetal surgeons, led by Dr. Michael Belfort, conducted the clinical study. Belfort already had pioneering experience in similar uterine surgeries performed to treat babies with spina bifida.
Maisie Savage was notified about the need to travel immediately to Texas and stay there until the end of the pregnancy, which she described as 'a huge decision'. As part of the study protocol, she first visited the hospital in Leuven, Belgium, where specialists administered a Botox injection through the uterus into Theo's abdominal wall, aiming to relax the muscles and facilitate the surgical procedure.
The surgery took place the previous year, in November. Doctors proceeded to partially expose the uterus to position the baby, drained the amniotic fluid, and filled the uterine cavity with carbon dioxide (CO2) to increase available space. Subsequently, using a minimally invasive technique, Theo's organs were relocated to the abdomen, which was then closed with sutures.
Savage had a scar twice as large as a C-section and still had 14 weeks of pregnancy ahead. Theo frequently kicked and hit the scar, causing pain. She commented that 'the recovery was difficult. But it was worth it.'
French described the waiting period during the procedure as agonizing, stating that 'that day felt like it lasted a week. It was very difficult to wait without knowing exactly what was happening at each stage of the procedure.'
Dr. Belfort, who is responsible for obstetrics and gynecology at Texas Children's Hospital, evaluated the outcomes, stating: 'The mother, the baby, the surgery, the time it was performed, the fact that we had no complications during or after the fetal surgery... All of this is extraordinary.'
If the clinical study is successful, Paolo de Coppi, a professor of pediatric surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital and director of the stem cell and regenerative medicine research center at University College London, will take over the procedure in the UK. De Coppi expressed hope that this treatment could soon be offered to a larger number of patients.
Belfort expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration between the two institutions and pointed to broader implications in the medical field. He emphasized that 'the inside of the uterus has become a new field for surgical innovation,' citing spina bifida and gastroschisis as mere examples. He believes that in the future, cardiac surgeries and certain fetal pulmonary procedures can be performed during pregnancy.
Back in London, Savage confirmed that Theo is well, saying that 'everything they did completely changed the course of history, which could have started very difficultly. Today he is great. He is essentially a baby like any other.'
French concluded by expressing gratitude: 'We feel extremely privileged. While we were there, we received exceptional care. They alleviated one of the most traumatic moments of our lives. And today we have this little boy. We couldn't be happier.'
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the license of a bottled drinking water manufacturer in the state of Tripura. Additionally, the production, storage, distribution, and sale of a dietary food supplement manufactured by a company from Punjab have been banned.
The reason for these measures was serious violations of food safety rules and regulatory norms identified during inspections at the water supply facility.
Two people died in the American state of Michigan as a result of a cyclosporiasis outbreak, a condition that can present symptoms such as severe diarrhea. These are the first two fatalities recorded since the outbreak was detected in various states across the country.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported that the deaths occurred due to the cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting the state. According to medical records, both patients had significant pre-existing health conditions, which may have been aggravated by both cyclosporiasis and dehydration. The department added that it would not disclose further details about the cases.
Although deaths from cyclosporiasis are considered rare, given that the infection is generally not fatal, the state has registered a total of 11,234 cases so far, including 193 patients who required hospitalization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publicly confirmed that they are aware of two deaths related to cyclosporiasis in individuals with comorbidities in Michigan, linked to this outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite capable of contaminating fresh food or water, resulting in severe diarrhea in those infected. It is known that cases tend to increase in the US during the spring and summer months, with a typical period extending from mid-May to the end of August.
During this period, the CDC identified over 18,000 cases of domestic cyclosporiasis; of these, 6,707 were confirmed, and approximately 11,500 are undergoing additional testing and laboratory analysis to verify if the disease was contracted in the US.
The CDC statement clarified that the national outbreak is linked to a parasite found in lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to the Taco Bell fast-food chain in restaurants located in five states. The affected states include Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
In response, the fast-food restaurant chain declared that the ingredient in question, coming from its supplier, is being removed from its entire supply chain indefinitely and will be replaced within 24 hours in some locations.
