Fetal tumors are another life-threatening condition that can be treated in utero. Often benign sacrococcygeal tumors early in development can grow very large and cause the baby's heart to work very hard to pump blood causing heart failure and possible death. Guided by ultrasound imagery, radiofrequency ablation can be used to cut off blood supply to the tumor. This maneuver hinders the tumor's growth so that the fetus can survive until it is delivered, and the tumor can be safety removed after birth.

Fetal surgery is now also being considered in the treatment of some severely disabling conditions that aren't life threatening, but could benefit from fetal intervention. For instance, research has found that if some types of spina bifida are caught early enough in gestation, a certain amount of spinal cord function can be preserved, which would dramatically alter the course of therapy for the better upon birth.

Most of the open surgical techniques involve an incision in a part of the uterus that would require you to have any future children delivered via Cesarean section. Fetal surgery also poses risks to the health of the fetus, but these risks are usually outweighed by the benefit of surgery, since usually surgery is performed to save the fetus's life or to have an increased improvement in function. Be sure to discuss any risks of surgery to the mother and fetus fully with your doctor.