Patient Feedback

After our daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida, we were informed about the possibility of open foetal surgery. After short preliminary examinations at the Kinderspital Zurich, Dr Möhrlen gave us extensive information about the prospects and risks of such an operation.

For us there was really no choice but to give our child the best possible chance, so we decided to go ahead with the surgery. Professor Meuli and the interdisciplinary team who carried out the operation on our unborn baby filled us with hope and confidence that everything would turn out well in the end. During our stay in the maternity ward at the University Hospital of Zurich we received valuable advice and were very well looked after by Professor Zimmermann, Professor Ochsenbein, Dr Krähenmann and the nursing team. Our baby was born at 36.4 weeks by caesarean section with absolutely no complications. Today our daughter is five months old. When we see a smile on her beaming face, we forget about all the worries and difficulties we experienced during that time and are very proud to have chosen this procedure. We’re very confident about the ongoing assistance provided by the highly skilled medical staff at the Kindesspital Zurich and would like to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved in our daughter’s treatment so far.

My unborn daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida during a routine ultrasound at my gynaecologist when I was 20 weeks pregnant.

Following another comprehensive ultrasound examination and after having all the options explained to me, I contacted Professor Martin Meuli. He had already briefed me on the phone about the prospects, risks and options involved in a foetal MMC closure and invited me to Zurich to undergo preliminary examinations and have an in-depth pre-operative discussion. I subsequently decided to immediately go ahead with the operation, which took place at 24 weeks. The operation went smoothly with no complications and, after just a few days, I was allowed back on the ward and could walk around the hospital and hospital grounds. My water broke early and my daughter Noemi was born by caesarean section at 34 weeks. Despite the very long stay at Unispital Zurich, which wasn’t always fun, if I had my time over again I would still choose to have the operation. Not least because of the outstanding medical care and transparency.

Thank you so much for everything!

Family T. (2014)

We couldn’t be better! Our two girls are thriving. They’re healthy and lively and extremely happy little kids, they smile from ear to ear and are just adorable. They are both making huge progress.

Every two weeks we take them to the physio, initially because of their “pointy heads” and now to help improve their muscle development. “Little” A has caught up well and is just as active as she was in the womb, while Soraya is tranquillity personified. She enjoys lying around and gazing at everything with her big eyes. They’re both battlers and both incredibly content. We believe they calm each other down, since they’ve been sleeping through the night since they were three months old, which has obviously been a great help to us. L is also great; he is so sweet to them even though he sometimes nearly smothers them with brotherly love. Every time we look at our little ones we feel so incredibly grateful. It is indescribable, simply the best thing in life. We will never forget you, xxx! We’ve attached a couple of photos for you. We’ll be in touch!

Family H. (2014)

We were referred to the USZ due to our high-risk pregnancy – making the move was the best decision we’ve ever made! Excellent care and support in every regard enabled us to get through the long stay on the prenatal ward.

We also greatly appreciated the collaboration with the Kinderspital ZH. It meant the caesarean section could be carried out by the USZ team at the KISPI to give our boys the best possible chance. And, as you can see, we’re a happy family with three great kids.

Thanks so much!

Family W. (2013)