U of MD Center for Advanced Fetal Care

The University of Maryland Center for Advanced Fetal Care specializes in the evaluation and treatment of fetal abnormalities, and provides state-of-the-art care for unborn babies with complex conditions such as heart defects, fetal growth problems and chromosomal abnormalities. Learn what makes our center special. In this video, parents with complicated pregnancies, including twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), talk about their experiences at the Center and how our doctors gave them hope. Drs. Ahmet Baschat and Christopher Harman, co-directors of the Center, discuss the ways in which families can gain a better understanding of their issues and the options available to them, including first trimester programs for the assessment of risk of anomalies and chromosome problems. As one of the few centers in the country specializing in laser fetal surgery, nearly 4,000 fetal procedures have been performed at the Center for various abnormalities, including TTTS. In this video, Dr. Baschat talks about how he treats this problem using the most advanced technologies. The Center for Advanced Fetal Care can help when a routine ultrasound shows a problem, or when your history suggests high-risk for a problem. Those risks include: - Family history, such as single gene disorder - Congenital heart disease, mental retardation, or other syndromes - Advanced maternal age - Abnormal maternal serum (triplescreen or quad screen) or abnormal ultrasound - Multiple gestation (twins or more) - Congenital infection, such as Fifth disease - Fetal growth restriction For some patients and conditions, the fetus requires immediate treatment. Services offered around-the-clock include: - Fetal blood transfusion - Treatment of fetal thrombocytopenia - Percutaneous shunt placement - Minimally invasive fetal surgery - Treatment of fetal heart failure - Treatment of fetal hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism - Treatment of fetal infection - Drug therapy - Gene therapy - Fetoscopic electrocautery, and laser ...