MEDICINA FETAL: O AVANÇO QUE LEVOU À CIRURGIA INTRAUTERINA

Objective: To discuss the evolution of fetal medicine with an emphasis on current aspects of fetal surgical therapy. Methodology: An integrative literature review was carried out, using relevant articles found in the databases: Lilacs, PubMed, Scholar Google and Scielo. Studies whose full text was not available for free were excluded. Bibliographical Review: Fetal surgery has gained ground as a therapeutic possibility for various congenital pathologies. Through it, diagnoses that were previously considered lethal or seriously damaging are now treatable. However, its techniques are still constantly improving, and its indications are specific and reserved. It is up to the care team to carry out the timely diagnosis of anomalies, as well as to identify the conditions capable of fetal correction in order to guarantee the adequate physiological development of the fetus through early surgical intervention. Final Considerations: Fetal surgery was a milestone in the treatment of serious congenital pathologies, by enabling intrauterine antenatal treatment. Its advances make it possible to treat more and more pathologies, with a progressive reduction in risks. However, this is not yet an available treatment option for the vast majority of Brazilian patients, as its implementation is limited to a few specialized professionals from large centers.