AIIMS Delhi Performs India's First Open Fetal Spine Surgery on Unborn Baby

Doctors at AIIMS Delhi have performed <b>India's first open fetal surgery</b> to treat a severe congenital defect called Myelomeningocele. The 6-hour operation, conducted on November 12, targeted a 25-week-old fetus to repair a gap in the spine where cerebrospinal fluid was leaking. According to Prof. (Dr.) Deepak Gupta of the Neurosurgery Department, this condition prevents proper spinal development and can lead to paralysis or brain hydrocephalus. The medical team spent over <b>five weeks preparing</b> for the complex procedure, which included detailed ultrasounds and health assessments of the mother.