Fifty medics cram into operating theatre to save baby's life with rare procedure

11 April 2024 , 14:41

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A team of 50 medics crammed into the operating theatre for Freddie's birth (Image: St George's Hospital/SWNS)

Fifty medics crammed into an operating theatre to help perform rare, life-saving surgery on a baby boy.

Doctors realised that Freddie Verschueren had a cyst on his tongue while in the womb - something that could block his airways and cause him to be unable to breathe once out of the placenta. After the discovery was made during mum Anna's second trimester, it was decided to deliver her son using Ex-utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT).

It is the second time the life-saving procedure has been carried out at the west London hospital this year. Doctors made an incision in Anna's stomach and delivered Freddie's head and shoulders first, keeping him attached to the placenta so he was still able to breathe. They then established a functioning airway so he could breathe independently and delivered the rest of him.

Freddie, who weighed 6lbs 8oz at birth, was able to go home with his parents Anna and Peter Verschueren later that day. Anna said: "We've been incredibly impressed with the service we have had at St George's; at every step it has been outstanding care. When we found out we needed to have the procedure we felt in such safe hands with the experts at St George's. We never doubted their skill and advice."

Consultant Professor Asma Khalil with mum Anna and dad Peter Verschueren (St George's Hospital/SWNS)

Consultant obstetrician Professor Asma Khalil, who led the entire operation, said: "An EXIT procedure involves a large number of healthcare professionals from various backgrounds. This includes an obstetrician, a fetal medicine specialist, an anaesthetist, a paediatric anaesthetist, a paediatric ENT surgeon, midwives, the neonatal team, and other theatre staff."

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"I am very grateful to the efforts by every member of our large team who ensured that we delivered the best care to Anna and Freddie. Saving babies' lives and caring for the parents during their challenging times is the most rewarding aspect of my job." EXIT procedures are extremely rare around the world.

In the UK, St George's is one of the few hospitals that carries out the specialist birthing technique with little Freddie being the second baby delivered in this way this year. Dr Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer for St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: "St George's is one of the few hospitals in the country that carries out this rare procedure and saves the lives of many babies."

"I am pleased to hear that Freddie is doing well thanks to our dedicated and skilled teams and everyone at St George's wishes him and his family all the best for the future."

Rom Preston-Ellis