Leader of Fetal Surgery to Deliver Lectures at UC

An internationally recognized authority on fetal surgery will lecture at the UC Medical Center, representing the first of a series of lectures on fetal surgery presented by the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn).

Jan Deprest, MD, professor of Ob/Gyn at the University Hospital in Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium will deliver two lectures entitled “Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Is in utero treatment a good option?” and “Technical Aspects of Modern Fetoscopy and Operative Fetoscopy.”  The lectures will take place at 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 3 in UC’s Medical Sciences Building, room 2351.

“Dr. Deprest is one of the leaders of fetal surgery,” said Giancarlo Mari, MD, professor of Ob/Gyn and director of Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy at the UC Medical Center.  “More specifically, surgery done through an ultra-thin telescopic instrument (fetoscope).” 

Dr. Deprest has been researching and performing a new procedure in Europe where fetuses diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with a “poor prognosis” are operated on in utero.  Dr. Deprest’s scientific stature in the international community and his willingness to visit Cincinnati reflects the rapid and scientific progress that is being made in the establishment of a fetal surgery program on UC’s medical campus.

At the end of February, the department of Ob/Gyn will welcome their second speaker, Yves Ville, MD, from the University of Paris – France Department of Ob/Gyn.