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Main article: Pregnancy and childbirth
The uterus of a healthy woman is a small organ that is approximately 7.5 cm tall and 5 cm wide.
However, during pregnancy, this organ undergoes significant changes.
By the middle of pregnancy (20 weeks), the uterus reaches the level of the navel.
By 36 weeks of pregnancy, the apex of the uterus reaches the lower part of the chest.
Diseases
Artificial uterus
Main article: Biobag (artificial uterus)
2023: Artificial uteruses begin to be implanted in the US
The first experiments on the use of artificial uterus were held in the United States. The experiments took place on sheep, they were able to live up to four weeks. Now scientists plan to test artificial uteruses on children born very early. This was reported by the Scientific American media on September 18, 2023.
In April this year, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in Philadelphia published the results of its study of the artificial uterus on lambs. In addition, videos of the experiment were published, which caused a violent reaction in the scientific community. Now CHOP scientists are waiting for permission to conduct clinical trials of an artificial uterus on children. The researchers emphasize that their EXTEND (Extra-uterine Environment for Newborn Development) device is not aimed at maintaining the vital activity of the fetus from conception to childbirth. Scientists hope that recreating uterine conditions will improve the survival and development of babies born very early. By this, scientists mean children born before the 28th week. Scientists highly appreciate the potential of the project.
 | If our project is as successful as we see it, most pregnancies with a high risk of fetal loss will be delivered to our system in advance, not after an early birth in serious condition, said Alan Flake, CHOP pediatric surgeon. |  |
After the success of tests on lambs, many team members joined the startup Vitara Biomedical, which raised $100 million to develop EXTEND, which can already help children.
A regular uterus gives the fetus oxygen, nutrients, antibodies. In addition, with the help of the placenta, the mother's body takes waste from the fetus. The artificial uterus focuses first on delivering oxygen to the fetus and releasing carbon dioxide. In gas this, they are able to replace fans that are installed in boxes for babies born prematurely.[1]
Chronicle
2023
A device for painless sampling of biomaterial for cervical diseases was presented in Russia
In Russia, presented a device for painless sampling of biomaterial in cervical diseases. We are talking about the development of the Baltic Federal University. I. Kant (BFU), the press service of the Platform for University Technological Entrepreneurship at the end of August 2023. Read more here.
Successful uterine transplant from living donor performed for the first time
On August 23, 2023, surgeons from Oxford Churchill Hospital announced the first Britain in a successful transplantations uterine operation from a living donor.
The 40-year-old, who already has two children, reportedly acted as a uterus donor for her 34-year-old sister. The recipient was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), a rare disease affecting the female reproductive system. It is a congenital defect characterized by an undeveloped Müller duct, resulting in the absence of a uterus. Since the ovaries do not develop from the Müllerian duct, patients with MRKH have normal secondary sexual signs, but these women are not fertile.
Two uterine extraction and transplantation operations took a total of approximately 18 hours. The female recipient plans to perform an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. For this, several embryos are preserved.
It is expected that the transplanted uterus will be in the patient's body for a maximum of five years, during which she will have to take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection. Once a woman becomes pregnant and has a baby (via C-section), she will have the choice of either having a hysterectomy or trying to have another baby.
Uterine transplant surgery was performed by Professor Richard Smith and Dr. Isabel Quiroga. It is noted that the patient feels fine after surgery. In the future, the procedure is expected to become more widespread and more women will have the opportunity to give birth to their own child.
| | It was a great honour to have the first uterus transplant in Britain. The operations, although long and complex, went according to plan, and I am glad to see that the donor and the recipient are on the mend, - said Quiroga.[2] | |
World's first baby born after fully robotic uterine transplant
On May 25, 2023, the world's first child was born after a completely robotic uterine transplant. The boy, who is 49cm long and weighs just over 3kg, was born at Gothenburg University Hospital.
Gothenburg University has been researching uterine transplantation since 1999. The first such operation was carried out in 2012, and in 2014 the first birth followed. The method makes it possible for couples where a woman is not able to endure a child for physiological reasons to become parents.
It is noted that robotic surgery allows for less invasive interventions compared to conventional open surgery. Cameras and instruments are inserted through small holes in the lower abdomen. Through the operating station, doctors can obtain high-quality images of organs. The movement of surgical instruments is carried out with high accuracy using controllers similar to joysticks. Robotic surgery contributes to a shorter period of tissue healing and reduces the risk of adhesion lesions.
It is noted that taking a uterus from a donor using a robot can take up to ten hours. About eight more hours are needed for the transplant itself. After transplantation, patients are prescribed medicines to prevent reactions from the body. The technology reduces hospital discharge time, reducing hospitalization costs.
During the procedure, robotic intervention was applied to both the donor and the recipient. Ten months after the operation, an embryo was placed in the transplanted uterus as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. Pregnancy ended with a planned C-section at week 38.[3]
2021: VirtaMed Announcement - Platforms for Simulating Surgery
In early February 2021, VirtaMed launched a platform to train students and doctors in hysteroscopy and gynecological laparoscopy in mixed reality. The training uses objective feedback and considers various pathologies with increasing complexity of procedures, including the possibility of complications. Read more here.
Notes
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