06/03/2026
Amazing!
This week, in the protected underground Women and Maternity ward at Sheba Medical Center, two highly complex fetal medicine procedures were successfully performed by Prof. Yoav Yinon and Prof. Boaz Weiss
The first involved a 25-year-old woman in the 17th week of her second pregnancy, carrying identical twins who share a placenta and were diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). This life-threatening condition can rapidly worsen, leaving only a narrow window for intervention. During the procedure, a specialized endoscope (fetoscope) was carefully inserted into the uterus, a laser was used to seal change to ablate the blood vessels connecting the twins, stopping the abnormal blood flow between them. This delicate, life-saving intervention is being performed for the first time in the world in a protected underground facility.
In addition, a 32-year-old woman in her 26th week of pregnancy underwent an intrauterine blood transfusion after her fetus developed severe anemia caused by maternal antibodies that cause hemolysis of fetal red blood cells. In this invasive procedure, blood is injected directly into the fetus’s bloodstream under precise ultrasound guidance. This complex intervention requires exceptional expertise and tightly controlled conditions, allowing physicians to stabilize the fetus and significantly improve the chances of continuing the pregnancy safely.
Prof. Yoav Yinon, Director of the Fetal Medicine Unit, emphasized that procedures such as laser treatment for TTTS cannot be postponed. In many cases, there is only a brief opportunity to act and save lives. Especially in times of emergency, maintaining full continuity of care is essential to ensure that women and their fetuses receive advanced, uninterrupted treatment. The ability to carry out such complex procedures in a protected underground setting ensures that patients never have to choose between personal safety and life-saving medical care.
Prof. Boaz Weiss, Director of the Institute for Obstetric and Gynecologic Imaging, noted that intrauterine blood transfusion for severe fetal anemia is an extremely delicate and precise treatment. By delivering blood directly into the fetal circulation, physicians can quickly stabilize life-threatening conditions and significantly prolong the pregnancy. Performing advanced interventions under complex circumstances, he added, reflects a deep commitment to providing fetuses and their families with the very best chance possible.