Fetal therapy

Fetal therapy is defined as any prenatal treatment administered to the mother or fetus with the primary indication to improve perinatal or long-term outcomes for the fetus or newborn. The practice of fetal therapy is a relatively new concept in the field of obstetrics. It originated over 55 years ago when Liley et al. first performed intraperitoneal transfusion for the treatment of fetal anaemia. Since then, the practice has evolved from open fetal surgery to minimally invasive techniques used to manage an array of complex conditions. The domain of fetal therapy is an ever-evolving specialty. This chapter discusses key principles and techniques of current fetal therapy. As well as providing background information on how these techniques have evolved, it also focuses on determining what information future developments may bring.