(PCMC PHOTO)

The Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) has safely delivered a baby boy who became the first in the country to undergo Open Fetal Surgery for Myelomeningocele, marking a major breakthrough in pediatric and prenatal care in the Philippines.

The baby was born via cesarean section on May 21, two months after undergoing the intricate surgery inside his 30-year-old mother’s womb.

Both mother and child are now in stable condition and under close observation at PCMC.

The historic operation took place on March 26 at PCMC’s Perinatal Center.

During the procedure, surgeons repaired the baby’s spinal defect, a critical step in preventing lifelong complications, including severe mobility and neurological issues associated with the condition.

The baby’s mother said they were initially anxious about their child’s future and focused on finding every possible treatment to avoid further complications.

The parents learned about the option through their Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist in the province, who referred them to the PCMC Fetal Surgery Program.

PCMC officials said the successful delivery was the result of years of planning, training, and team coordination across disciplines.

From equipment and protocols to patient care, the hospital said everything was mapped out in detail before proceeding.

“Behind the baby’s safe delivery is an effort of the entire surgical team, including nurses and support staff,” Dr. Maria Estrella Y. Flores, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, said in a statement.

“We planned thoroughly and made sure every detail was addressed, from training to multiple multidisciplinary team meetings and pre-procedural planning,” she went on.

Flores stressed the critical role of early prenatal care in improving fetal outcomes.

“It provides an opportunity to intervene at the right time and improve outcomes for the baby, even before birth,” she said.

Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida, a congenital condition caused by the incomplete closure of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues during early pregnancy.

It carries a 10 percent mortality rate among live births and often leads to irreversible disabilities.

Dr. Jose Francisco Aguilar, a pediatric neurosurgeon on the team, said that approximately one in every 1,000 babies born in the Philippines is affected by the congenital defect.

“Currently, only open fetal surgery, a complex and delicate procedure, has shown favorable outcomes,” he stated.

According to the hospital, this milestone signals the beginning of the PCMC Fetal Surgery Program’s goal to make complex prenatal surgeries accessible in the Philippines and nearby countries.

The program is set to continue its care for qualified mothers, aiming for the best health outcomes, it added.