Amir Alhajjat, MD

Dr. Alhajjat is a pediatric surgeon and specialist in the area of surgical fetal intervention. He completed a two-year fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic Arizona, as well as a one-year fellowship in Fetal Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He completed his residency in General Surgery at the University of Iowa.

As a physician scientist, Dr. Alhajjat’s research has focused on the maternal and fetal immune response to In-Utero Stem Cell Transplantation and Prenatal Tolerance following Hematopoietic Cellular Transplantation. He also focuses on understanding of the delicate maternal-fetal immune tolerance during pregnancy and the imbalances that occur with various fetal procedures.

Clinically, Dr. Alhajjat practices pediatric general and thoracic surgery with a range of conditions spanning newborns through young adults. He has a strong interest in laparoscopic and thoracoscopic newborn surgery. 

Clinical and Research Expertise

Fetal Health Conditions

• Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS)
• Myelomeningocele (MMC), or open spina bifida
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
• Fetal teratomas and other masses or tumors
• Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM/CCAM)
• Bronchial atresia
• Twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence
• Selective growth restriction in a twin pregnancy
• Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO)
• Congenital heart defects
• Amniotic band syndrome
• Fetal chylothorax
• Fetal lymphatic malformations
• Abdominal wall defects
• Esophageal or intestinal atresias
• Congenital airway obstruction

General Pediatric Conditions

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• CPAM (congenital pulmonary airway malformation)
• Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT)
• Abdominal wall defects—gastroschisis and omphalocele
• Hirschsprung’s disease
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Hernia (umbilical, inguinal)
• Intussusception (intestinal obstruction, intestinal telescoping)
• Surgical oncology
• Pediatric trauma

Procedures Performed 

Fetal Health Procedures

• Selective fetoscopic laser procedures for twin-twin transfusion syndrome
• Open and fetoscopic surgery for MMC/spina bifida
• Radiofrequency ablation for TRAP
• Thoraco- and vesico-amniotic shunting procedures
• Percutaneous amnioinfusions or placement of an amnioport
• Amniocentesis and amnioreduction
• Ex-utero intrapartum treatment procedures
  • EXIT-to-airway
  • EXIT-to-resection
  • EXIT-to-ECMO
• Open fetal surgery for rare life-threatening fetal conditions
• Fetoscopic devascularization for chorioangiomas and placental tumors
• Comprehensive care for genitourinary conditions including bilateral renal agenesis

General Pediatric Surgical Procedures

• Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic newborn surgery
• Diaphragmatic surgery
• Lung surgery
• Airway surgery
• Esophageal surgery
• Anti-reflux surgery
• Bowel surgery
• Treatment of chest wall deformity
• Pancreatic surgery
• Oncologic surgery
• Spleen surgery, splenectomy
• Rectal surgery
• Laparoscopic and open Inguinal hernia repair