Katarzyna Zych-Krekora

Difficulties in prenatal diagnosis of tumour in the fetal sacrococcygeal area

Prenatal ultrasound at the 20th week of gestation revealed a 3-cm tumour in the sacrococcygeal area. Initially, a sacrococcygeal teratoma was suspected on the basis of fetal ultrasonography, which revealed normal heart anatomy and an increasing tumour mass. The diagnosis was then changed to fetus in fetu or teratoma. Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging at the 34th week of pregnancy confirmed the ultrasound diagnosis. No other anomalies were found. Elective caesarean section was performed at term. The care team included a paediatric surgeon, obstetricians, neonatologists, midwives, and an anesthesiologist. A female newborn was delivered in good condition. The tumour was resected in the operating room and mature teratoma was established by histopathological evaluation. Surprisingly, agenesis of the right forearm was revealed which had not been detected prenatally, despite many examinations (both in our hospital and earlier at a primary care obstetrician office).

New method to predict need for Rashkind procedure in fetuses with dextro‐transposition of the great arteries

Prenatal congenital heart disease classification systems distinguish between critical dextro‐transposition of the great arteries (d‐TGA) with restriction of the foramen ovale (FO) (which requires a Rashkind procedure within the first 24 h following delivery) and d‐TGA for which surgery is planned (after prostaglandin perfusion or Rashkind procedure later than 24 h after delivery). However, current prenatal diagnostic criteria for postnatal FO restriction in d‐TGA are inadequate, resulting in a high false‐negative rate. We aimed to identify echocardiographic features to predict the urgent need for Rashkind procedure.

Retrospective cohort study of prenatally and postnatally diagnosed coarctation of the aorta (CoA): prenatal diagnosis improve neonatal outcome in severe CoA

Abstract Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to improved outcome but not mortality rate. This may not be the case for coarctation of the aorta (CoA). The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of a prenatal diagnosis of CoA by comparing neonates with CoA by the time of diagnosis. Materials and methods: The study included 38 neonates with CoA diagnosed prenatally and 102 neonates diagnosed postnatally. The postnatal group was divided into two subgroups: (1) severe CoA: symptoms of CoA within the first 7 days (n = 43) and (2) mild CoA: symptoms within the 8–28th day (n = 34). The neonates diagnosed more than 28 days after delivery were excluded from the study (n = 25). Severe CoA was defined as CHD diagnosed postnatally with clinical symptoms that presented in the first week after birth. Mild CoA was defined as CHD that presented clinical symptoms later than 7 days of life. Results: Prostaglandins were initiated at lower doses (p < .001) in the prenatal group. Severe postnatal CoA was associated with more frequent Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) visits than mild postnatal CoA (p = .005). The length of hospitalization of neonates with severe postnatal CoA was 10 days longer than compared to the prenatal group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The highest mortality rate was in the severe postnatal CoA group (18.6%) which was significantly higher than the mortality rate in the prenatal group (p = .005). Conclusion: 1. Prenatal identification of fetuses at increased risk of developing CoA may reduce mortality and improve outcome only in neonates with severe CoA (symptoms of CoA within the first 7 days after birth); 2. Prenatal diagnosis of severe CoA was associated with lower prostaglandin doses and lower mortality rate.

P22.02: Polish National Registry for fetal cardiac anomalies in 2016

Results: Low VCI at the entry was found in 19 patients (0.3% of 6024 screenings). Uterine isthmus had already been opened at the entry in 12 patients. Nine cases of VP and one of low VCI without VP were diagnosed at the entry and consistent until the delivery. Two cases were diagnosed as placenta previa with low VCI at the entry. They progressed to low-lying placenta with VP at delivery due to atrophy of the placenta around the internal os. On the other hand, seven patients were diagnosed as low VCI near the closed isthmus at the entry. Five were diagnosed as low VCI without VP at the delivery, however, two cases of velamentous vessels were descending toward the isthmus with the expansion of the amniotic bag after the opening of the isthmus, resulting in VP at the delivery. Conclusions: Not only atrophy of the placenta previa around os develops VP, but also low VCI occasionally migrates in the direction of the uterine cervix with uterine isthmus opening, resulting in VP.

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome - diagnosis, associations, and outcome in 71 prenatally diagnosed cases

The objective of this study was to analyze the spectrum of prenatally diagnosed absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) and the outcome from diagnosis onwards. Fetuses with APVS and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF/APVS) and with APVS and intact ventricular septum (APVS/IVS) were included.

Follow-Up on 107 Fetuses with Normal Us + Echo After 37TH Week of Gestation

Abstract Introduction: Echocardiography of the fetal heart is an ultrasound examination that allows the evaluation of the anatomical structure and cardiovascular system usually performed in first half of pregnancy. Material and methods: This work presents the data of 107 fetuses with normal heart anatomy (NHA) and normal heart study (NHS) and their neonatal follow-up. In this group (in an addition to routine prenatal work-up) has been performed also a echocardiography examination in the third trimester of pregnancy, after 37th week of gestation: 61% of pregnant women were referred to the prenatal cardiology center due to the presence of high-risk pregnancies and 39% were low-risk pregnancies. Results: In two cases episodes of fetal arrhythmias were present during obstetrical examinations. After birth in the study group of 107 fetuses, 72% of newborns left the hospital during the 4 days and 28% newborns stayed in the hospital for longer time. In 16 cases their stay was extended due to maternal reasons and in 14 for newborns reasons. Conclusions: 1) In the neonate group, after prenatal cardiac evaluation > the 37th week of gestation such as “ normal fetal heart anatomy & normal heart study”, all newborns in our center were born in good general condition. 2) Late prenatal echocardiography in 3rd trimester of pregnancy maybe considered as additional tool to prove fetal well being, specially in high risk pregnancies.

Retrospective Analysis of Preterm Neonates with Congenital Heart Defects Delivered by Cesarean Section: Unfavourable Outcomes a Necessity for Fetal Cardiology Education During Obstetrical Training?

Abstract Introduction: Congenital heart defects are the most frequent reason for deaths during the neonatal and early infancy periods. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze singleton pregnancy outcomes of premature neonates with congenital cardiac defects delivered by Cesarean section. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 10,800 fetuses evaluated in our referral fetal cardiac center between 2010 and 2016. A group of 58 singleton pregnancies was selected with the following criteria: fetal heart defect, Cesarean section (C-section), and gestation of 37 weeks or less. Exclusion criteria included labor outside of our hospital and multiple pregnancy. Results: Isolated heart defects constituted 74,1% (43 cases) of the analysed data set. The majority of newborns were delivered at 36 weeks of gestation (43,1%), with an average of 33,6 weeks. In one case (1,7%), C-section took place at 22nd week. Birth weight of newborns < 2500g constituted 51,7% (30 cases). Neonatal deaths occurred in 60,3% (35 cases). Conclusions: Preterm neonates with congenital heart defect, delivered by C-section in our reference centre, during 2010 to 2016, had generally poor outcomes and high mortality rate. The average hospital stay of surviving neonates was approximately two months. An improvement of knowledge about prenatal cardiology is necessary in obstetrician management with fetuses with congenital heart diseases.

Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome – Special Prenatal Care and Early Surgery in Obstetric/Cardiac Center - A New Hope for Postnatal Survivors?

Abstract Introduction: APVS (Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome) is a rare congenital heart disease. Its incidence according to The Polish National Registry of Fetal Cardiac Pathology in years 2004 - 2016 was 0.6%.This disease is caused by the absence or the residual pulmonary artery valve resulting in significant dilation of the pulmonary trunk and its branches. In utero deaths are reported. After birth the major problem is respiratory failure and high preoperative and postoperative mortality. Material and methods: In 1995 to 2016, 11 fetuses with APVS were diagnosed in our unit, at the average 27,5 weeks of gestation (min. 18.5- max 37.1 weeks of gestation). Two groups were analysed in this series of cases: “Old one” by 2011 (n = 6) and “New one” since 2011 (n = 5) and perinatal care as well as survival were compared. We analysed the fetal echo results, perinatal care including transplacental digoxin and steroids treatment in NEW group, the longevity of the pregnancy and neonatal/infants outcome. Results: In Old group the average day of cardiac surgery was day 91st after birth (max. 161) and the survival was 50% . In the New group the average surgery day was 41st day and the postoperative survival was 60%, however there was no statistical significance ( p > 0,05). Conclusions: There is no single parameter from prenatal life in foetuses with APVS which may allow to predict the positive outcome meaning neonatal survival. However optimal perinatal care (early detection of defect, transplacental digoxin at least 3-4 weeks, steroids, no preterm delivery, on-time delivery, postnatal care in tertiary center) and relatively early cardiac surgery may have combined impact on the improvement of survival after prenatal diagnosis of APVS, however more data are necessary to prove this hypothesis.

The course of pregnancy and delivery in a patient with malaria

Malaria is one of the most common lethal parasitic diseases. Infection is transmitted when an infected female mosquito bites a human introducing the sporozoites into human blood. The article presents the course of pregnancy and delivery in a patient complicated by Plasmodium infection. The patient had repetitive several trips to Tanzania over a short time period before she developed the condition. She had been taking antimalarial medication (proguanil-atovaquone) in a prophylactic dose during and after her first travel to Tanzania. Following her first return to Poland she experienced infection-related symptoms.

Prenatal Diagnosis of TAPVC on Monday, Delivery of Tuesday and Cardiac Surgery at Wednesday - A Model of Perinatal Care in 3rd Trimester in Case of Fetal/Neonatal Critical Heart Defect in Tertiary Center.

Abstract Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a congenital heart defect (CHD), in which all pulmonary veins connect to the systemic veins or to the right atrium/coronary sinus instead of the left atrium. We present a case report of fetus with prenatally diagnosed isolated infracardiac type of TAPVC in 38th week of gestation. In fetal echocardiographic examination performed in the Department of Prenatal Cardiology, the fetus presented lack of visible pulmonary veins connection to left atrium, abnormal venous confluence behind left atrium, additional vein leading from abdominal cavity to mediastinum and abnormal smooth Doppler blood flow in pulmonary confluence. The accurate prenatal diagnosis allowed to deliver the neonate at term, in tertiary center one day after diagnosis, and to perform surgical reposition of pulmonary veins the following day. The neonate was referred home in a good condition after 28 days of hospitalization. This case is a good example of the value of the 3rd trimester echocardiography.