Baby Theo undergoes pioneering womb surgery to repair gastroschisis

Doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston performed a groundbreaking fetal operation on baby Theo, correcting a severe form of gastroschisis while he was still in the womb. The procedure, led by Dr. Michael Belfort, is part of the first‑of‑its‑kind clinical trial and marks the third successful case worldwide.

Theo’s parents, London teachers Maisie Savage and Josh French, traveled to the United States after specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital identified the complex defect at 24 weeks gestation. The surgery involved a key‑hole technique that gently returned the exposed intestines to the abdomen. Theo, now five months old, is thriving.

Gastroschisis affects about one in 3,000 UK births and can require prolonged intensive care, multiple surgeries, and even intestinal transplants. The successful fetal repair offers a new treatment pathway for this rare condition.