Lurie Children's is an environment where your family’s safety and health are our top priority. Visit our COVID-19 Resources page to learn about the increased measures in place at our facilities to ensure your safety.
Leading Care for Complex Fetal Diagnosis
With more than 40 years’ experience, The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health’s multidisciplinary team is a leader in the research and care of pregnant patients with fetal complications. Our team of fetal care experts includes specialists from fetal surgery, maternal-fetal medicine, fetal and neonatal cardiology, among other adult and pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties.
We are here to empower you and your family to understand your baby’s diagnosis and to provide corrective fetal intervention, if needed. In addition, we will discuss what to expect after birth and provide the specialized follow-up care for your baby, regardless of their condition or where they are born.
Some of the fetal conditions our fetal center team treats include:
- Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO)/Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO): Our team provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, prenatal treatment, and delivery planning for LUTO of all types.
- Open spina bifida/myelomeningocele (MMC): If a patient is suspected of carrying a fetus with open spina bifida, a consultation with our fetal health team is recommended to confirm the diagnosis of an open neural tube defect and discuss with the family the available treatment options
- Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS): In most cases of TTTS (stages I-IV) that develop before 28 weeks, laser surgery is recommended as this approach directly treats the cause of the disease. Sometimes, in the earliest stage I cases, a trial of observation with follow-up ultrasounds may be an option if heart strain has not yet developed or the TTTS has developed slowly after 26 weeks
Other conditions include:
- Bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS)
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Congenital fetal airway obstruction
- Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM/CCAM)
- Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT)
- Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP)
- Amniotic Bands
- Gastroschisis
- Omphalocele
- Cervical/Neck Masses
- Imperforate anus
- Intestinal atresia
- Esophageal atresia/Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF)
- Pyelectasis or pelviectasis
- Hydronephrosis
- Posterior urethral valves
Our fetal health services are available by caregiver referral or self-referral. Call today and speak with our care team.
