EXIT procedure
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The EXIT procedure, or ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure, is a specialized surgical delivery procedure used to deliver babies who have airway compression due to bronchopulmonary sequestration, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, teratoma, or other congenital disorder. The approach is similar to a C-section, where an opening is made in the anesthesticized mother's uterus. The baby is then partially delivered through the incision (while still attached to the umbilical cord and the placenta) and the surgeon establishes an airway so the fetus can breathe independently. The procedure is much more complex than a C-section, as it requires careful coordination between the mother's doctors and the specialists operating on the newborn baby. The difficulty lies in preserving enough blood flow through the umbilical cord, protecting the placenta, and avoiding contractions of the uterus so that there is sufficient time to establish the airway. Once EXIT is complete, the umbilical cord is cut and clamped, and the infant is fully delivered.
