The procedure, performed during pregnancy, was designed to protect the baby's exposed bowel before birth and represents a significant milestone in fetal surgery. The successful case has attracted international attention because fetal surgery for gastroschisis remains highly experimental. The Groundbreaking Fetal Operation That Helped Protect The Baby's BowelAccording to the reports, surgeons performed the pioneering operation while Theo was still in the womb after prenatal scans identified gastroschisis. After birth, infants typically require surgery to return the exposed organs to the abdomen and repair the opening in the abdominal wall. If future studies confirm the promise shown in this pioneering operation, fetal surgery for gastroschisis could expand the treatment options available to families facing this rare diagnosis.