Baby first in UK to have operation to fix intestine while still in womb

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, August 4, 2026

A baby boy from the UK became the first from his country to have gastroschisis repaired via fetal surgery, performed at Texas Children’s Hospital as part of an international clinical trial. This successful operation, which allowed the baby to be carried to term and drastically reduced postoperative complications, could establish a new treatment standard and be introduced in the UK for similar cases.

A baby boy from the UK has become the first child from the country to undergo pioneering surgery to repair his intestines while still in the womb. The procedure, performed at Texas Children’s Hospital in the United States, addressed gastroschisis, a rare condition in which a baby’s intestines develop outside the body due to an underdeveloped belly button.

Maisie Savage, 29, from London, was 26 weeks pregnant when doctors diagnosed her son Theo with gastroschisis. The condition affects approximately one in every 3,000 births in the UK and is typically identified during the 20-week scan. Traditionally, babies with this condition undergo surgery after birth, requiring extended time in intensive care and often multiple operations, particularly in severe cases like Theo’s.

As part of a clinical trial involving Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London and KU Leuven in Belgium, Maisie traveled first to Belgium to receive a Botox injection administered through her womb. This injection relaxed the abdominal wall of the fetus, facilitating the subsequent surgical repair. She then traveled to Texas, where surgeons led by Dr. Michael Belfort conducted the fetal surgery. The team partially exposed her womb, drained amniotic fluid, and inflated the uterus with carbon dioxide to create more space. Using minimally invasive keyhole surgery, they gently repositioned Theo’s intestines back inside his abdomen before closing the incision.

Theo was carried to full term and was born in Texas in February. Maisie described him as a “little miracle,” noting that the procedure reversed what could have been a difficult start to his life. She acknowledged that her own recovery was challenging, including a significant abdominal scar, but emphasized the overall benefit of the surgery.

Paolo De Coppi, consultant fetal and paediatric surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital and professor at UCL, commented that Theo was "doing remarkably well" following the intervention. He highlighted that the surgery’s success could signal a new standard for treating complex gastroschisis cases. Drawing parallels with fetal surgery for spina bifida, which is more established and typically performed between 19 and 26 weeks of pregnancy, De Coppi suggested that this approach might allow affected infants to come home sooner with fewer complications.

Dr. Belfort noted the surgery marked a significant innovation, with zero complications reported during or after the fetal procedure. He also expressed optimism about the potential for in utero surgery to treat other conditions, including certain cardiac and lung abnormalities.

While Theo is only the third baby worldwide to have this operation, the success of the clinical trial could pave the way for the procedure to be offered in the UK and elsewhere, potentially improving outcomes for future babies diagnosed with gastroschisis.

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