Ex utero Intrapartum Therapy (EXIT)
An EXIT procedure (short for Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment) is a specialized delivery used in rare situations when a baby is expected to have trouble breathing at birth. During an EXIT procedure, the baby is partially delivered by cesarean section but remains connected to the placenta, which continues to supply oxygen. This gives the medical team time to secure the baby’s airway, for example, by placing a breathing tube or performing a surgical airway (tracheostomy), before the umbilical cord is cut.
Conditions that may be treated with an EXIT:
- Cervical Teratoma and other large neck/face masses
- Severe micrognanthia (small jaw)
(Illustration of infant undergoing EXIT to tracheostomy)
Why do an EXIT?
- Allows the team to maintain oxygen delivery while the airway is safely established
- Reduces the risk of emergency breathing problems at birth
(Illustration of infant undergoing EXIT to intubation)
EXIT procedures are carefully planned in advance and performed by a multidisciplinary team that include maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, maternal fetal anesthesiologist, pediatric surgeons, otolaryngologists (ENT) surgeons, and neonatologists
We perform this specialized procedure at the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center at Primary Children's Hospital
(Pic: Fetal team performing an EXIT procedure for airway obstruction)
