The Road to Becoming a Fetal Surgeon

by: Sarah Amaladoss

Overview

Fetal surgery, a relatively new medical speciality, is on the forefront of medical technology and development. Very few hospitals have specialists in their fetal surgery department due to the complexity of the surgeries performed. For a fetus at risk in utero, a fetal surgeon could be the difference between life and death. Throughout the history of medicine, there have been several medical innovations, including fetal surgery. Fetal surgeons have now attained the ability to perform complex procedures that treat birth defects such as amniotic band syndrome, fetal anaemia, and masses using only fetoscopy and sonography. Not only do fetal surgeons treat these defects, but they also provide a new lease of life for a fetus in utero who otherwise could have had a very challenging life.

Training

Training in a general surgery residency, followed by a pediatric surgery fellowship, and subsequent fetal surgery fellowship, provides fetal surgeons a wide variety of skills in all three surgical fields. This enables them to perform complex surgeries, combining skills from the three different fields. The path to becoming a Fetal surgeon usually looks something like this:

• Obtaining a bachelor's degree.

• Completing a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD).

• Entering a general surgery residency program that lasts from five to six years.

• Completing a pediatric surgery fellowship.

• Completing a fetal surgery fellowship.

Procedures done by a Fetal surgeon:

Because a fetal surgeon is trained to operate on all parts of a fetus in utero, a high degree of knowledge regarding anatomy, especially that of a fetus, is required. A fetal surgeon performs a wide variety of surgeries ranging from collecting blood samples to placing shunts. This variety allows for fetal surgeons to be on top of their game and up to date with the latest technological advances as they are constantly performing different surgeries. In addition to this, because of the size of a fetus and pre-existing conditions, no two surgeries are the same; as a result, a fetal surgeon gains valuable experience presented by the many variables of surgery. The main objective of fetal surgery is to directly treat the condition present to prevent it from worsening. A fetal surgeon is trained in diagnostics, fetal monitoring, fetal cardiovascular assessments, and high risk maternity and delivery as these are all crucial parts of treating a diagnosis. Using the latest medical technology such as 2D and 3D ultrasound techniques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the latest research on fetal surgery, a fetal surgeon is able to carefully construct a unique action plan. Fetal surgeons often work in tandem with other specialities for the health of both mother and baby, which is why communication is one of the essential skills of a fetal surgeon. After successfully treating the fetus, the surgeon will continue to monitor both mother and baby to ensure this success persists for the remainder of her pregnancy.

Skill Set

As fetal surgery is done in a controlled environment, it does not have aspects of trauma which create a high intensity, fast paced situation. Rather, because the surgery can often be long and daunting, it requires the skill of patience. A fetal surgeon's skill set is exceptionally unique, as not only are they operating on a fetus in utero, but they also have to be able to comfort and reassure desperate families in their time of need. You’ll need a delicate balance of empathy and emotional detachment for this career, which at times can be hard. Fetal surgeons need to have a great grasp of emotion and feelings, especially given the context of their work. In addition to this, the ability to communicate is of high importance as you will be working with a variety of people such as parents, families, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and those in other specialities. Although many of these traits are not exclusive to fetal surgeons and can be found in other specialties, a fetal surgeon must use these skills to their advantage when given a variety of options in a controlled setting, a facet many other specialties don’t have.

Conclusion

Whilst the road to becoming a trauma surgeon may be long, difficult, and tiring, it is one of the most important medical specialities, not only for a fetus but for their families, the advancement of medicine, and the idea that hope can endure. Not only is fetal surgery an extremely rewarding speciality, as you are giving a new lease of life to someone who hasn’t been born yet, but you are also contributing to the development of a relatively new medical speciality that will continue to save countless lives. Fetal surgeons have the incredible ability to hold onto this life under immense stress and pressure and still preserve it with such delicacy and care. It is because of this that they are rightfully regarded highly both in the medical community and in society.