[Fetal endoscopic surgery: between dreams and reality. (South-East medicine and prenatal research)]

"Open" fetal surgery has had little success in the management of fetal malformations, and is limited by two important unresolved difficulties: control of the operating stress on the fetus and maternal tocolysis. The "mini-invasive" approach by endoscopic surgery circumvents these difficulties and appears promising. Decision making with the dilemma between prenatal or postnatal surgery remains critical.