23.07.2026 19:40
At Hacettepe University in Ankara, a 26-week-old baby underwent Türkiye's first closed intrauterine intervention for a neural tube defect. A 30-member team, with international expert support, successfully closed the opening in the baby's spinal cord during a 6.5-hour operation. The center, which also performed open surgery on another baby in the same period, became the first in Türkiye to offer both methods.
26-week pregnant Sebiha Çakmak (32) was diagnosed with 'neural tube defect' (a congenital anomaly affecting brain and spinal cord development) in her baby while in the womb. At Hacettepe University Adult Children's Hospital, using a method applied for the first time in Turkey, the opening in the baby's spinal cord was closed by entering the uterus via a closed method.
DECISION FOR SURGERY ON THE BABY IN THE WOMB During an ultrasound examination at Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital when Sebiha Çakmak was 22 weeks pregnant, a congenital anomaly affecting the brain and spinal cord development was detected in the baby. Sebiha Çakmak was referred to Hacettepe University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Perinatology Clinic. As a result of examinations, it was decided to intervene on the 26-week baby while in the womb.
A team of approximately 30 people, including Hacettepe University Perinatology Department Chair Prof. Dr. Özgür Deren and faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdem Fadıloğlu, Department of Brain and Nerve Surgery faculty member Prof. Dr. İlkay Işıkay, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation faculty member Prof. Dr. Banu Kılıçaslan, and endoscopic surgery specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Derman Başaran, performed a 6.5-hour operation on July 14 with international support from world-renowned expert Prof. Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz. During the operation, the opening on the spinal cord of the 26-week baby was successfully closed by entering the uterus using the fetoscopic (closed) method. In this operation, which entered the literature as the first case performed via closed method in Turkey, the baby's treatment was achieved by entering the uterus with a camera and millimeter-sized surgical instruments.
On July 13, at Hacettepe University Adult Hospital, surgical repair was also performed on another baby in the womb with neural tube defect using the open surgical method, which can be performed in only a few centers worldwide and in Turkey. Thus, with operations successfully completed within 24 hours, Hacettepe University became the first center in Turkey to offer both open and closed surgical options for the treatment of 'neural tube defect' in the womb to its patients.
"IT WAS A HUGE MIRACLE FOR US" Sebiha Çakmak said she is pregnant with her 7th child and that such an anomaly had not occurred in her previous children. Çakmak said, "A closed surgery took place on July 14. It happens in the womb, it felt like a miracle. We had fears, we had excitement, but thank God, thanks to our professors, we overcame our fear, I went into surgery. Thank God, my child is fine, I am fine. Since this was the first such surgery in Turkey, it was a huge miracle for us. At first, everyone said 'terminate this pregnancy, abort this child, we don't need a disabled child.' Thank God I didn't. I said I will continue this pregnancy to the end. My child is fine now, thank God. It will be a boy. We are waiting for him with happiness. In fact, we are thinking of naming our son 'Umut' (Hope). He gave us hope. I feel his movements, and feeling his movements gives me a great miracle. Now we want to await his birth, God willing. May God be a thousand times pleased with all our doctors. Hope is never lost from God," she said.
"CLOSED SURGERY IS THE FIRST IN TURKEY" Prof. Dr. Özgür Deren stated that they treated two cases within 24 hours using both open and closed techniques, saying, "This is, of course, a matter of a very large team and coordination. It is surgery performed by the collaboration of neurosurgery, anesthesiology, perinatology, endoscopic surgery, and many branches working together. Our team performed closed surgery for the first time in Turkey. We are very proud of this. We performed these surgeries with a team of 30 people. From now on, we have the experience to offer both options, both closed surgery and open surgery, to patients who may come with this disease. In closed surgery, when entered with a camera, there is a much smaller incision. We thank our university and hospital administrators, especially our Hacettepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, who did not withhold their support in this process," he said.
"ALLOWS VAGINAL BIRTH" Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdem Fadıloğlu also explained that with these treatments, expectant mothers can have vaginal births in this pregnancy and subsequent pregnancies, and the chances of the babies walking independently increase, stating, "These are very important advantages brought by this surgical technique. These children have a defect that occurs at the beginning of pregnancy. Then we try to prevent the damage this defect will cause to the baby's nerves over time. The most important goal of intrauterine surgery is this."
"AN INCREDIBLE TEAM EFFORT" Prof. Dr. İlkay Işıkay, referring to the effect of the disease on brain functions, said, "Due to a problem occurring in early pregnancy in the womb, children with this disease are born with a closure defect in the lower part of their spine. Although the neurological presentation is very variable, the classic picture includes decreased movement in the legs and, in later periods from childhood onward, difficulties with urinary and bowel control, fluid accumulation in the brain, hydrocephalus, as we call it, problems that the public is now familiar with if left untreated. When we repair this in the womb, we both prevent exposure to amniotic fluid and, because we repair the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the fetus, that is, the baby in the womb, the complications of hydrocephalus are less problematic. Fetoscopic surgery was performed for the first time in Turkey. I am very proud to be part of this team. It is an incredible team effort. This fully fetoscopic fetal surgery, applied for the first time in Turkey, will be an important option for babies diagnosed with neural tube defects and their families from now on," he said.
"WE ALSO GIVE ANESTHESIA TO THE BABY" Prof.Dr. Banu Kılıçaslan stated that the most interesting aspect of the operations was that the baby also received anesthesia, and that they applied multiple anesthesia methods, saying, "During the surgery, we also administer anesthesia to the baby, ensuring it does not move and remains under anesthesia. Because studies have shown that babies at this stage feel pain, so we apply appropriate anesthesia accordingly. Thus, we are administering anesthesia to two different entities at the same time. For this reason, these are surgeries that require very serious preparation beforehand."
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