Successful resuscitation during fetal surgery

J L Graf1, B W Paek, C T Albanese

  • 1Department of Surgery, Fetal Treatment Center, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0570, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|September 22, 2000
PubMed

After in utero resection of a sacrococcygeal teratoma coupled with a transfusion of packed red blood cells, a 23-week-gestation fetus had bradycardia. Chest compressions were begun and epinephrine, atropine, and sodium bicarbonate were given, while the fetus remained bathed in warm saline. After 3 rounds of drugs, and just before withdrawing support, the fetal heart resumed beating and normal cardiac function. Based on to this case, the authors developed a resuscitation protocol for fetal surgery.