Dual demise following laser surgery for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome: analysis of 52 cases at a single fetal surgery center

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the feasibility of single percutaneous uterine access for bilateral pleuroamniotic shunting (PAS) in fetuses with severe hydrothorax by using an internal rotational maneuver and to compare perinatal outcomes between successful and failed procedures. Methods: A prospective cohort of 25 fetuses with isolated bilateral hydrothorax and hydrops were referred to our fetal surgery center in Queretaro, Mexico during an 8-year period. Bilateral PAS was first attempted through a percutaneous single uterine access by internal rotation of the fetus, which was achieved by using the blunt tip of the same cannula, and in case of a failed procedure, a second uterine port was used to place the second shunt. The perinatal outcomes between successful (single uterine port) and failed (2 uterine ports) fetal procedures were compared. Results: Placing of bilateral shunts through a percutaneous single uterine access was feasible in 15/25 (60%) cases. Overall, median GA at delivery was 35.2 weeks with a survival rate of 64.0% (16/25). Three cases were excluded due to shunt dislodgement, leaving a final population of 22 fetuses; 13/22 (59.1%) and 9/22 (40.9%) managed using 1 and 2 uterine ports, respectively. The group with bilateral PAS placement through a successful single uterine port showed a significantly higher GA at birth (36.5 vs. 32.8 weeks, p = 0.001), lower surgical time (11.0 vs. 19.0 min, p = 0.01), longer interval between fetal intervention and delivery (5.7 vs. 2.7 weeks, p = 0.01), lower risk of preterm delivery (46.2 vs. 100%, p < 0.01), and lower rate of perinatal death (15.4 vs. 55.6%, p < 0.05) than the failed procedures requiring 2 uterine ports. Conclusion: In fetuses with severe bilateral hydrothorax and hydrops, bilateral pleuroamniotic shunting through a successful single percutaneous uterine access is feasible in up to 60% of cases and is associated with better perinatal outcomes.

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Preoperative Cervical Length Predicts the Risk of Delivery within One Week after Pleuroamniotic Shunt in Fetuses with Severe Hydrothorax

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy ◽

10.1159/000514912 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Alma Gámez-Varela ◽

Miguel Martínez-Rodríguez ◽

Hugo López-Briones ◽

Jonahtan Luna-García ◽

Eréndira Chávez-González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fetal Surgery ◽

Predictive Performance ◽

Cervical Length ◽

Pleural Space ◽

Fetal Intervention ◽

Short Cervix ◽

Mediastinal Shift ◽

Prelabor Rupture Of Membranes ◽

Bilateral Lung ◽

Surgery Center

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the predictive performance of preoperative cervical length (CL) for delivery within 1 week after pleuroamniotic shunting (PAS) in fetuses with severe hydrothorax. Methods: A prospective cohort of fetuses with severe hydrothorax referred to our fetal surgery center in Querétaro, Mexico from January 2012 to July 2020. Severe fetal hydrothorax was diagnosed as an accumulation of fluid within the fetal pleural space accompanied with severe bilateral lung compression, mediastinal shift, polyhydramnios, and/or hydrops. Transvaginal CL was measured immediately before PAS, and a short cervix was defined as that <25 mm. The interval from fetal intervention to delivery, prevalence of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROMs), and associations with delivery within the first week after PAS according to a short or a normal CL, were evaluated. Results: Thirty-five pregnancies with severe fetal hydrothorax treated with PAS were evaluated. Median gestational age at PAS was (weeks + days) 31+2 (range, 26+0–36+1). Two (5.7%) and 7 (20.0%) cases delivered within the first 24 h and 1 week after PAS, respectively. Ten (28.6%) women had a short cervix before PAS, while 25 (71.4%) had normal preoperative CL. Women with a short cervix showed lower mean interval between fetal intervention and delivery (2.4 vs. 5.5 weeks, p = 0.01), and higher prevalence of PPROM (50 vs. 12%, p = 0.01), as compared to women with a nonshort cervix. Preoperative short cervix was associated with significantly higher risk of delivery within the first 24 h (20.0 vs. 0%, respectively, p < 0.05) and 1 week after PAS (50.0 vs. 8.0%, respectively, p < 0.01) compared with pregnancies with normal preoperative CL. Conclusion: In pregnancies with severe fetal hydrothorax candidates for pleuroamniotic shunt, identification of a short cervix before fetal intervention can predict delivery within 1 week after the surgical procedure.

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Institutional Profile: The Baptist Laparoscopy & Laser Surgery Center

Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery ◽

10.1089/clm.1991.9.175 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 175-177

Author(s):

Marcie Fried Weibgen

Keyword(s):

Laser Surgery ◽

Institutional Profile ◽

Surgery Center

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Open Fetal Microneurosurgery for Intrauterine Spina Bifida Repair

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy ◽

10.1159/000513311 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Rogelio Cruz-Martínez ◽

Felipe Chavelas-Ochoa ◽

Miguel Martínez-Rodríguez ◽

Karla Aguilar-Vidales ◽

Alma Gámez-Varela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spina Bifida ◽

Amniotic Fluid ◽

Open Surgery ◽

Perinatal Death ◽

Fetal Surgery ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Surgery Technique ◽

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting ◽

Surgery Center

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the feasibility of open fetal microneurosurgery for intrauterine spina bifida (SB) repair and to compare perinatal outcomes with cases managed using the classic open fetal surgery technique. Methods: In this study, we selected a cohort of consecutive fetuses with isolated open SB referred to our fetal surgery center in Queretaro, Mexico, during a 3.5-year period (2016–2020). SB repair was performed by either classic open surgery (6- to 8-cm hysterotomy with leakage of amniotic fluid, which was replaced before uterine closure) or open microneurosurgery, which is a novel technique characterized by a 15- to 20-mm hysterotomy diameter, reduced fetal manipulation by fixing the fetal back, and maintenance of normal amniotic fluid and uterine volume during the whole surgery. Perinatal outcomes of cases operated with the classic open fetal surgery technique and open microneurosurgery were compared. Results: Intrauterine SB repair with a complete 3-layer correction was successfully performed in 60 cases either by classic open fetal surgery (n = 13) or open microneurosurgery (n = 47). No significant differences were observed in gestational age (GA) at fetal intervention (25.4 vs. 25.1 weeks, p = 0.38) or surgical times (107 vs. 120 min, p = 0.15) between both groups. The group with open microneurosurgery showed a significantly lower rate of oligohydramnios (0 vs. 15.4%, p = 0.01), preterm rupture of the membranes (19.0 vs. 53.8%, p = 0.01), higher GA at birth (35.1 vs. 32.7 weeks, p = 0.03), lower rate of preterm delivery <34 weeks (21.4 vs. 61.5%, p = 0.01), and lower rate of perinatal death (4.8 vs. 23.1%, p = 0.04) than the group with classic open surgery. During infant follow-up, the rate of hydrocephalus requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunting was similar between both groups (7.5 vs. 20%, p = 0.24). All patients showed an intact hysterotomy site at delivery. Conclusion: Intrauterine spina repair by open fetal microneurosurgery is feasible and was associated with better perinatal outcomes than classic open fetal surgery.

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