Fetal Surgery Available in Dallas
During COVID-19 Pandemic
The fetal surgery procedures and interventions we provide at Fetal Care Center in Dallas are lifesaving and certainly “medically necessary.” For this reason, we are able to continue providing all of our treatments during this COVID-19 pandemic.
If fetal surgery/interventions are not available for your potential needs, because of mandated guidelines in your city or state, we can help. We are able to provide all fetal services during this time, including the full array of surgical procedures.
If you need immediate support for your high-risk pregnancy, please contact us at Fetal Care Center Dallas, 972-566-5600.
Expert, compassionate care for families facing high-risk pregnancies
At Fetal Care Center Dallas, we understand high-risk pregnancy. Not just medically, but emotionally. We specialize in maternal-fetal medicine, fetal surgery, neonatal surgery, cpam surgery, fetal cardiology, diaphragmatic hernia fetal repair and pediatric cardiology.
COMPREHENSIVE CARE
Fetal Care Center Dallas is a fetal surgery center housing one of only a handful of physician groups in the United States that can provide you and your unborn baby with the most comprehensive, sophisticated and effective therapies available worldwide. Our focus is on pioneering diagnostics and surgical treatments to save lives and minimize the impact of birth defects.
We are integrally connected with the hospital resources at the Fetal Care Center at Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Women’s Hospital for first-rate fetal surgery in Dallas. Our physicians and the myriad of additional pediatric subspecialists all work in the same health care complex. This expansive team includes specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, fetal and pediatric cardiology, genetic counseling, fetal and neonatal surgery, radiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, and perinatal psychologists. You can expect to interact with these and potentially an even broader variety of healthcare specialists depending on you and your child’s needs.
REVIEWS
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Outcomes:
96.5%
survival rate for one or both twins*
Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare condition that may affect identical twins who share a common placenta (monochorionic twins). It is caused by an inequality in the blood supply between the two fetuses as a result of abnormal blood vessel development in the shared placenta. One twin may have an insufficient blood supply to provide the necessary nutrients to survive or grow normally. The other twin receives too much fluid, which can put a strain on his or her heart, sometimes leading to heart failure.
| Summary Outcomes of Dr. Crombleholme’s Most Recent 209 cases of Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation (without confounders*) | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 96.5% |
| Dual survival | 83% |
| No survivors | 3.4% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by sIUGR in Donor Twin | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 87% |
| Dual survival | 61% |
| No survivors | 13% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by Short Cervix | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 80% |
| Dual survival | 60% |
| No survivors | 20% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by Gestational Age < 18 weeks’ | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 80% |
| Dual survival | 59% |
| No survivors | 20% |
*Confounders: selective growth restriction (sIUGR), short cervix (<2.5 cm) or gestational age <18 weeks.
83%
dual survival rate*
Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare condition that may affect identical twins who share a common placenta (monochorionic twins). It is caused by an inequality in the blood supply between the two fetuses as a result of abnormal blood vessel development in the shared placenta. One twin may have an insufficient blood supply to provide the necessary nutrients to survive or grow normally. The other twin receives too much fluid, which can put a strain on his or her heart, sometimes leading to heart failure.
| Summary Outcomes of Dr. Crombleholme’s Most Recent 209 cases of Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation (without confounders*) | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 96.5% |
| Dual survival | 83% |
| No survivors | 3.4% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by sIUGR in Donor Twin | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 87% |
| Dual survival | 61% |
| No survivors | 13% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by Short Cervix | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 80% |
| Dual survival | 60% |
| No survivors | 20% |
| Survival of TTTS Following Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation Confounded by Gestational Age < 18 weeks’ | |
| Survival of one or both twins | 80% |
| Dual survival | 59% |
| No survivors | 20% |
*Confounders: selective growth restriction (sIUGR), short cervix (<2.5 cm) or gestational age <18 weeks.
Spina Bifida Neonatal Outcomes:
0
fetal deaths*
Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect in which an area of the spinal column forms improperly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed. Myelomeningocele is the most common and most serious form of spina bifida. It occurs when part of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves push through the vertebrae in the spine and protrude from the fetus’ back. Open fetal surgery spina bifida is a procedure which few doctors are acquainted with, let alone skilled in, but our doctors at Fetal Care Center Dallas are recognized by the medical community as one of the leading maternal-fetal medicine doctors in the world. Repair fetal myelomeningocele and schedule your appointment today by calling 972-566-5600.
Summary Outcomes: Recent myelomeningocele cases treated by Dr. Crombleholme (49 cases)
| Maternal Outcomes | |
| Maternal deaths | 0 |
| DVT/PE requiring anticoagulation | 1 |
| Preterm labor with cervical changes | 5 |
| O2 requirement due to pulmonary edema | 2 |
| Average GA at delivery (weeks) | 34 |
| Healed hysterotomy site | 100% |
| Partial uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Full uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Neonatal Outcomes | |
| Fetal deaths | 0 |
| Neonatal deaths | 3 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; parents refused resuscitation | 1 |
| Delivered at 24 weeks; could not resuscitate | 1 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; Died of sepsis from pneumonia at 8 weeks of age | 1 |
0
maternal deaths*
Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect in which an area of the spinal column forms improperly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed. Myelomeningocele is the most common and most serious form of spina bifida. It occurs when part of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves push through the vertebrae in the spine and protrude from the fetus’ back. Open fetal surgery spina bifida is a procedure which few doctors are acquainted with, let alone skilled in, but our doctors at Fetal Care Center Dallas are recognized by the medical community as one of the leading maternal-fetal medicine doctors in the world. Repair fetal myelomeningocele and schedule your appointment today by calling 972-566-5600.
Summary Outcomes: Recent myelomeningocele cases treated by Dr. Crombleholme (49 cases)
| Maternal Outcomes | |
| Maternal deaths | 0 |
| DVT/PE requiring anticoagulation | 1 |
| Preterm labor with cervical changes | 5 |
| O2 requirement due to pulmonary edema | 2 |
| Average GA at delivery (weeks) | 34 |
| Healed hysterotomy site | 100% |
| Partial uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Full uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Neonatal Outcomes | |
| Fetal deaths | 0 |
| Neonatal deaths | 3 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; parents refused resuscitation | 1 |
| Delivered at 24 weeks; could not resuscitate | 1 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; Died of sepsis from pneumonia at 8 weeks of age | 1 |
95.4%
intact hysterotomy site*
Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect in which an area of the spinal column forms improperly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed. Myelomeningocele is the most common and most serious form of spina bifida. It occurs when part of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves push through the vertebrae in the spine and protrude from the fetus’ back. Open fetal surgery spina bifida is a procedure which few doctors are acquainted with, let alone skilled in, but our doctors at Fetal Care Center Dallas are recognized by the medical community as one of the leading maternal-fetal medicine doctors in the world. Repair fetal myelomeningocele and schedule your appointment today by calling 972-566-5600.
Summary Outcomes: Recent myelomeningocele cases treated by Dr. Crombleholme (49 cases)
| Maternal Outcomes | |
| Maternal deaths | 0 |
| DVT/PE requiring anticoagulation | 1 |
| Preterm labor with cervical changes | 5 |
| O2 requirement due to pulmonary edema | 2 |
| Average GA at delivery (weeks) | 34 |
| Healed hysterotomy site | 100% |
| Partial uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Full uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Neonatal Outcomes | |
| Fetal deaths | 0 |
| Neonatal deaths | 3 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; parents refused resuscitation | 1 |
| Delivered at 24 weeks; could not resuscitate | 1 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; Died of sepsis from pneumonia at 8 weeks of age | 1 |
0
instances of uterine rupture*
Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect in which an area of the spinal column forms improperly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed. Myelomeningocele is the most common and most serious form of spina bifida. It occurs when part of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves push through the vertebrae in the spine and protrude from the fetus’ back. Open fetal surgery spina bifida is a procedure which few doctors are acquainted with, let alone skilled in, but our doctors at Fetal Care Center Dallas are recognized by the medical community as one of the leading maternal-fetal medicine doctors in the world. Repair fetal myelomeningocele and schedule your appointment today by calling 972-566-5600.
Summary Outcomes: Recent myelomeningocele cases treated by Dr. Crombleholme (49 cases)
| Maternal Outcomes | |
| Maternal deaths | 0 |
| DVT/PE requiring anticoagulation | 1 |
| Preterm labor with cervical changes | 5 |
| O2 requirement due to pulmonary edema | 2 |
| Average GA at delivery (weeks) | 34 |
| Healed hysterotomy site | 100% |
| Partial uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Full uterine dehiscence | 0% |
| Neonatal Outcomes | |
| Fetal deaths | 0 |
| Neonatal deaths | 3 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; parents refused resuscitation | 1 |
| Delivered at 24 weeks; could not resuscitate | 1 |
| Delivered at 25 weeks; Died of sepsis from pneumonia at 8 weeks of age | 1 |
WHAT IS FETAL SURGERY?
By definition, fetal surgery is when a surgeon addresses problems with the fetus while the baby is still in the uterus. While fetal surgery is only necessary for a few issues, it can be crucial for addressing anatomic and development problems that can only be corrected with surgical techniques.
Perhaps the best way to understand fetal surgery is to hear from parents who’ve been through it. Watch the Jones family’s story about how Fetal Care Center Dallas physicians saved the lives of their twins from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
FETAL SURGERY
In rare cases where fetal surgery is needed, mothers and their unborn babies at Fetal Care Center Dallas are quite literally in the very best hands.
Dr. Timothy M. Crombleholme is one of the most experienced fetal surgeons in the world, having performed more than 1,200 fetal surgeries ranging from fetoscopic to open fetal surgery and EXIT procedures. Most importantly, Dr. Crombleholme has achieved among the best surgical outcomes of any fetal surgeon in the world.
Fetal Care Experience
1,200
fetal surgeries
36,000
high-risk pregnancy evaluations
FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
24/7 availability. We are responsive and ready when you and your patients need us. Our physicians are on call 24/7 to discuss diagnoses and care plans. The Fetal Center at Medical City Dallas is open and prepared for surgical or medical intervention 7 days a week, year-round. If you would like to discuss a specific case or diagnosis, call us toll-free 24/7 at 972-566-5600. We are committed to close working relationships with our referring physicians to ensure ongoing communication regarding patient care and outcomes. Our goal is to return patients to their primary physicians and to support delivery at their home hospitals whenever possible.
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