Ahmed A. Nassr

Effectiveness of vesicoamniotic shunt in fetuses with congenital lower urinary tract obstruction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

To evaluate the effect on perinatal and postnatal survival of vesicoamniotic shunt (VAS) as treatment for fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO).

Fetal cerebro-placental ratio and adverse perinatal outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis of the association and diagnostic performance.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis is to assess the value of fetal cerebro-placental Doppler ratio (CPR) in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies with fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods: Three databases were used: MEDLINE, EMBASE (with online Ovid interface) and SCOPUS and studies from inception to April 2015 were included. Studies that reported perinatal outcomes of fetuses at risk of FGR or sonographically diagnosed FGR that were evaluated with CPR were considered eligible. Perinatal outcomes include cesarean section (CS) for fetal distress, APGAR scores at 5 min, neonatal complications and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Pooled data were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI), and the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was used to illustrate the diagnostic accuracy of CPR. Results: Seven studies were eligible (1428 fetuses). Fetuses with abnormal CPR were at higher risk of CS for fetal distress (OR=4.49, 95% CI [1.63, 12.42]), lower APGAR scores (OR=4.01, 95% CI [2.65, 6.08]), admission to NICU (OR=9.65, 95% CI [3.02, 30.85]), and neonatal complications (OR=11.00, 95% [3.64, 15.37]) than fetuses who had normal CPR. These risks were higher among studies that included fetuses diagnosed with FGR than fetuses at risk of FGR. Abnormal CPR had higher diagnostic accuracy for adverse perinatal outcomes among “sonographically diagnosed FGR” studies than “at risk of FGR” studies. Conclusion: Abnormal CPR is associated with substantial risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. The test seems to be particularly useful for follow up of fetuses with sonographically diagnosed FGR.

Multidisciplinary team learning in the management of the morbidly adherent placenta: outcome improvements over time

BACKGROUND: Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) is a serious obstetric complication causing mortality and morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether outcomes of patients with MAP improve with increasing experience within a well‐established multidisciplinary team at a single referral center. STUDY DESIGN: All singleton pregnancies with pathology‐confirmed MAP (including placenta accreta, increta, or percreta) managed by a multidisciplinary team between January 2011 and August 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Turnover of team members was minimal, and cases were divided into 2 time periods so as to compare 2 similarly sized groups: T1 = January 2011 to April 2014 and T2 = May 2014 to August 2016. Outcome variables were estimated blood loss, units of red blood cell transfused, volume of crystalloid transfused, massive transfusion protocol activation, ureter and bowel injury, and neonatal birth weight. Comparisons and adjustments were made by use of the Student t test, Mann‐Whitney U test, χ2 test, analysis of covariance, and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 118 singleton pregnancies, 59 in T1 and 59 in T2, were managed during the study period. Baseline patient characteristics were not statistically significant. Forty‐eight of 59 (81.4%) patients in T1 and 42 of 59 (71.2%) patients in T2 were diagnosed with placenta increta/percreta. The median [interquartile range] estimated blood loss (T1: 2000 [1475‐3000] vs T2: 1500 [1000‐2700], P = .04), median red blood cell transfusion units (T1: 2.5 [0‐7] vs T2: 1 [0‐4], P = .02), and median crystalloid transfusion volume (T1: 4200 [3600‐5000] vs T2: 3400 [3000‐4000], P < .01) were significantly less in T2. Also, a massive transfusion protocol was instituted more frequently in T1: 15/59 (25.4%) vs 3/59 (5.1%); P < .01. Neonatal outcomes and surgical complications were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that patient outcomes are improved over time with increasing experience within a well‐established multidisciplinary team performing 2−3 cases per month. This suggests that small, collective changes in team dynamics lead to continuous improvement of clinical outcomes. These findings support the development of centers of excellence for MAP staffed by stable, core multidisciplinary teams, which should perform a significant number of these procedures on an ongoing basis.

Clinical application of fetal left modified myocardial performance index in the evaluation of fetal growth restriction

Abstract Objective: This study aims to evaluate cardiac function in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) compared with healthy fetuses, using the left modified myocardial performance index (MPI) and the association between MPI and perinatal outcome. Methods: Pregnant women between 34 and 39 weeks of gestation, who met the criteria for IUGR and were scheduled for delivery at an Egyptian tertiary medical center, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Women in the same gestational-age group with uncomplicated pregnancies were included as a control group. MPI was measured in all fetuses. The IUGR group was analyzed based on normal and abnormal umbilical artery (UA) Doppler. Perinatal outcomes were recorded. Results: The mean left MPI was significantly higher in IUGR fetuses with abnormal UA Doppler (mean 0.58±SD 0.093) compared with healthy fetuses (mean 0.45±SD 0.070) (P<0.001). IUGR fetuses with abnormal left MPI showed significantly worse perinatal outcome and increased morbidity compared with the control group. IUGR fetuses with abnormal left MPI also showed significantly worse perinatal outcome compared with IUGR fetuses with normal MPI (whether the UA Doppler was normal or abnormal). The fetal MPI was associated with the severity of fetal compromise in IUGR fetuses based on the perinatal outcome. Conclusion: MPI is a potentially useful tool in evaluating fetuses with suspected IUGR, which is crucial in classifying IUGR pregnancies into critical and non-critical cases and in predicting neonatal outcome.

Are ultrasound renal aspects associated with urinary biochemistry in fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction

To evaluate the association between ultrasonographic renal parameters and urine biochemistry in fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO).

Ethical issues in fetal therapy

The introduction of routine fetal ultrasound and the technical improvements in ultrasound equipment have greatly increased our ability to diagnose fetal anomalies. As a consequence, congenital anomalies are diagnosed today earlier and in a greater number of patients than ever before. The development of fetal intervention and fetal surgery techniques, improved anesthesia methodology, and sophisticated perinatal care at the limits of viability, have now made prenatal management of some birth defects or fetal malformations a reality. The increasing number of indications for fetal therapy and the apparent desire of parents to seek out these procedures have raised concern regarding the ethical issues related to the therapy. While fetal therapy may have a huge impact on the prenatal management of some congenital birth defects and/or fetal malformations, because of the invasive nature of these procedures, the lack of sufficient data regarding long-term outcomes, and the medical/ethical uncertainties associated with some of these interventions there is cause for concern. This chapter aims to highlight some of the most important ethical considerations pertaining to fetal therapy, and to provide a conceptual ethical framework for a decision-making process to help in the choice of management options.

Successful in utero Percutaneous Fetoscopic Release of a Wrapped Pleuro-Amniotic Shunt around the Fetal Arm: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background and Objectives: Fetal pleural effusions are either primary or secondary to chromosomal or structural fetal abnormalities. In both cases, thoraco-amniotic shunts may be indicated to prevent life-threatening consequences. In this report, we describe a rare complication of shunts and successful in utero management of this complication. We also summarize the prior reports of shunt wrapping around fetal limbs and successful prenatal release of the shunts. Data Source: Search including PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception till November 2015 was conducted for cases with shunt entrapment around fetal limbs with or without prenatal management. Results: Four cases including our case have been reported in the literature with wrapping of shunts around fetal limbs. Three of these cases were successfully managed prenatally using different interventional and anesthetic techniques. Conclusions: Prenatal shunts could be rarely complicated by wrapping of the shunt around fetal limbs with possible serious vascular and neurological consequences. Different techniques have been described for prenatal management of this condition. We describe a less invasive approach that could be done under local anesthesia in suitable cases.

Twin anemia polycythemia sequence: a single center experience and literature review

Twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is defined by significant intertwin hemoglobin discordance without the amniotic fluid discordance that characterizes twin-twin-transfusion syndrome (TTTS) in monochorionic twin pregnancies. TAPS is an uncommon condition which can either occur spontaneously, or following fetoscopic laser ablation for TTTS. This complication is thought to result from chronic transfusion through very small placental anastomoses; however, the pathogenesis of TAPS remains unknown. Consequently, there is no consensus in the management of TAPS. In this article, three cases of TAPS are described and we review the literature on this uncommon pregnancy complication.

Neurological outcomes by mode of delivery for fetuses with open neural tube defects: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Controversy exists regarding the optimal mode of delivery for fetuses with open neural tube defects.

Fetal interventional procedures and surgeries: a practical approach

Abstract The identification of congenital birth defects and fetal malformations continues to increase during the antenatal period with improved imaging techniques. Understanding of how to treat specific fetal conditions continues to improve outcomes from these treatment modalities. In an effort to further improvement in this field, we provide a review that begins with a brief background of fetal surgery including the history of fetal surgery, ethics surrounding fetal surgery, and considerations of how to treat the fetus during intervention. A synopsis of the most commonly encountered disease processes treated by fetal intervention/surgery including definitions, treatment modalities, and outcomes following fetal intervention/surgery is then provided. Within the sections describing each disease process, methodology is described that has helped with efficiency and success of procedures performed at our institution.