Can someone with spina bifida have an epidural?
As shown, epidural anaesthesia may be still feasible in patients with spina bifida occulta.
What is the treatment for myelomeningocele?
Myelomeningocele requires surgery to close the opening in the baby’s back within 72 hours of birth. Performing the surgery early can help minimize the risk of infection associated with the exposed nerves. It may also help protect the spinal cord from more trauma.
Can myelomeningocele be closed?
Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida. A portion of the spinal cord or nerves is exposed in a sac through an opening in the spine that may or may not be covered by the meninges. The opening can be closed by surgeons while the baby is in utero or shortly after the baby is born.
Can you have a natural birth if baby has spina bifida?
Many women with spina bifida will have a safe and successful pregnancy, but you will probably need to plan more carefully than other women.
Is myelomeningocele the same as spina bifida?
When people talk about spina bifida, most often they are referring to myelomeningocele. Myelomeningocele is the most serious type of spina bifida. With this condition, a sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby’s back. Part of the spinal cord and nerves are in this sac and are damaged.
What is the primary reason for surgical repair of myelomeningocele?
Why the Procedure is Performed. Repair of a meningocele or myelomeningocele is needed to prevent infection and further injury to the child’s spinal cord and nerves. Surgery cannot correct the defects in the spinal cord or nerves.
What is the difference between spina bifida and myelomeningocele?
Myelomeningocele is a type of spina bifida — a birth defect in which your baby’s spine and spinal canal don’t close before birth. Healthcare providers can usually diagnose myelomeningocele during pregnancy and perform surgery during pregnancy or after birth to repair the opening in your baby’s spine.
Can you have a vaginal birth if baby has spina bifida?
You may need to have a cesarean section to deliver your baby. This is often done to lower the risk for damage to the spinal cord that may occur during a vaginal delivery. Babies born with a meningocele or a myelomeningocele usually need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Is myelomeningocele curable?
Open neural tube defects such as myelomeningocele and myeloschisis are treatable by fetal repair. Closed neural tube defects such as lipomeningocele and myelocystocele are not treatable by fetal repair.
What are the complications associated with myelomeningocele?
Possible Complications
- Traumatic birth and difficult delivery of the baby.
- Frequent urinary tract infections.
- Fluid buildup on the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Brain infection (meningitis)
- Permanent weakness or paralysis of legs.
What happens if myelomeningocele ruptures?
In a myelomeningocele, the sac usually consists of meninges with a central neural plaque. If not well covered with skin, the sac can easily rupture, increasing the risk of meningitis.
What is the primary reason for surgical repair of a myelomeningocele?
What are the chances of having a second baby with spina bifida?
However, parents who already have had a child with spina bifida or another neural tube defect have a 4% increased risk of having a second child with spina bifida. Parents of two children with spina bifida have about a 10% chance of having another child with this condition.
Do you cover myelomeningocele?
There is no skin covering the defect. This type of defect happens in about 1 in every 1,000 pregnancies. Taking folic acid (vitamin B9) before pregnancy has reduced the frequency of this birth defect.
Can a baby with myelomeningocele walk?
Background and Purpose: Infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) have difficulty with, and show delays in, acquiring functional skills, such as walking.