FIRSTS IN PATIENT CARE
Last year maternal fetal medicine and pediatric neurosurgery specialists at Riley Children’s Health performed Indiana’s first successful fetal repair of myelomeningocele—a severe form of spina bifida. April King was one of the first to undergo mini-laparotomy fetoscopic spina bifida repair surgery at Riley Children’s in August 2025. King delivered her baby William several weeks later and during a follow-up appointment in January 2026 she and her husband received the news that William shows no signs of spina bifida. READ about this innovative procedure that minimizes the risk of fetal surgery for the mother, while preserving the benefits of in-utero repair for the fetus. LIFE CHANGERS >
“William’s doing [perfectly]. He looks like a completely normal baby, you would never know that he had spina bifida or myelomeningocele unless you actually looked at his back. To see a successful outcome and follow these babies as they grow up is incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the collaboration and dedication of our entire team.”
Jason K. Chu, MD, MSc, FAANS Pediatric neurosurgeon Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery, IU School of Medicine > Connect with Dr. Chu on Doximity.
For women with complex pregnancies, the Fetal Center, a partnership of pediatric specialties at Riley Children’s, provides comprehensive, leading-edge care and support for mother and baby that extends from prenatal diagnosis through delivery and postpartum follow-up. > Learn more about our program.
FETAL CENTER AT RILEY CHILDREN’S
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