Neonatal Rupture of the Tricuspid Valve and Maternal Lupus: Is There a Correlation?

Valve dysfunction is not widely recognized as a feature in newborns born to mothers with positive anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, and only scarce reports have suggested an association between rupture of the atrioventricular valve tensor apparatus and these maternal antibodies. We report the follow-up from fetal life to the time of postnatal surgery of a patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation due to a flail of the anterior tricuspid valve leaflet who was born to an anti-Ro/SSA antibodies positive mother.

The Financial Burden of Surgery for Congenital Malformations—The Austrian Perspective

Neonatal “surgical” malformations are associated with higher costs than major “non-surgical” birth defects. We aimed to analyze the financial burden on the Austrian health system of five congenital malformations requiring timely postnatal surgery. The database of the Austrian National Public Health Institute for the period from 2002 to 2014 was reviewed. Diagnosis-related group (DRG) points assigned to hospital admissions containing five congenital malformations coded as principal diagnosis (esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, and omphalocele) were collected and compared to all hospitalizations for other reasons. Out of 3,518,625 total hospitalizations, there were 1664 admissions of patients with the selected malformations. The annual mean number was 128 (SD 17, range 110–175). The mean cost of the congenital malformations per hospital admission expressed in DRG points was 26,588 (range 0–465,772, SD 40,702) and was significantly higher compared to the other hospitalizations (n = 3,516,961; mean DRG 2194, range 0–834,997; SD 6161; p < 0.05). Surgical conditions requiring timely postnatal surgery place a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. The creation of a dedicated national register could allow for better planning of resource allocation, for improving the outcome of affected children, and for optimizing costs.

Maternal Depressive Risk in Prenatal versus Postnatal Surgical Closure of Myelomeningocele: Associations with Parenting Stress and Child Outcomes

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Depressive risk is higher for mothers of infants with chronic medical conditions. The present study examined maternal depressive risk and associations with parent and child outcomes among mothers of young children who were randomized to either prenatal or postnatal surgical closure for myelomeningocele. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Using the Management of Myelomeningocele Study database, maternal depressive risk was examined at 3 time points as follows: prior to birth, 12 months, and 30 months post birth. Separate multivariate analyses examined associations among change in depressive risk (between baseline and 30 months), parenting stress, and child outcomes at 30 months. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mean scores were in the minimal depressive risk range at all the time points. Post birth depressive risk did not differ by prenatal versus postnatal surgery. Mean change scores reflected a decrease in depressive risk during the first 30 months. Only 1.1–4.5% of mothers reported depressive risk in the moderate to severe range across time points. Increased depressive risk during the first 30 months was associated with increased parenting stress scores and slightly lower child cognitive scores at 30 months. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Most mothers reported minimal depressive risk that decreased over time, regardless of whether their infant underwent prenatal or postnatal surgery. Only a small percentage of mothers endorsed moderate to severe depressive risk, but an increase in depressive risk over time was associated with higher parental stress and slightly lower child cognitive development.

U tim thai và sơ sinh: chẩn đoán trước sinh, theo dõi ba trường hợp và phẫu thuật thành công một trường hợp sau sinh tại Bệnh Viện Trung Ương Huế

Objective: Prenatal diagnosis, postnatal followed up of three cases of cardiac tumor and successful postnatal surgery of one case. Methods: Treatment and postnatal followed up of three cases of cardiac tumor. Those cases were diagnosed by fetal echocardiography. One of them underwent a successful postnatal surgery. Results: Three fetuses were diagnosed with fetal cardiac tumor (capable of Rhabdomyoma) at 28, 27, 38 gestational weeks. There were many tumors in one or two ventricles. These cases were referred to Hue Central Hospital for timing and location of delivery in 2019. One of them had obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract with successful surgical resection at 46 hours after birth. One of them had heart failure after birth. Evolution of three cases was favorable, heart failure regressed, cardiac tumors regressed at 7 - 9 months follow up. Conclusions: Fetal cardiac tumor can be diagnosed prenatally. Those three cases were capable of rhabdomyoma due to the presence of muliple tumors and their regression after birth. Neonatal surgical option should be reserved for the risk of cardiac flow obstruction.

Prenatal and postnatal imaging of an intrapericardial teratoma

BackgroundIntrapericardial teratomas are rare tumors arising from all three germinal layers. They are mostly benign but can lead to life-threatening complications.Case presentationA 38-year-old woman with an in vitro fertilization (IVF) conception had a normal fetal anatomical survey at 20 weeks of gestation. At 32 weeks, during evaluation for decreased fetal movements and gestational diabetes, the fetus was found to have a unilateral right pleural effusion, a large pericardial effusion with an 18 × 16 × 17 mm-sized cystic intrapericardial mass and ventricular dysfunction with associated, significant, polyhydramnios. Echocardiography was suggestive of a teratoma which was confirmed by pathology after postnatal surgery.ConclusionEarly prenatal diagnosis and appropriate monitoring during pregnancy are important to optimize outcome, however, even though antenatal intervention may improve the outcome in cases with hydrops, in utero mortality remains high.

Pediatric neurosurgeons’ views regarding prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele and the management of hydrocephalus: a national survey

OBJECTIVEThe Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) compared prenatal with postnatal surgery for myelomeningocele (MMC). The present study sought to determine how MOMS influenced the clinical recommendations of pediatric neurosurgeons, how surgeons’ risk tolerance affected their views, how their views compare to those of their colleagues in other specialties, and how their management of hydrocephalus compares to the guidelines used in the MOMS trial.METHODSA cross-sectional survey was sent to all 154 pediatric neurosurgeons in the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons. The effect of surgeons’ risk tolerance on opinions and counseling of prenatal closure was determined by using ordered logistic regression.RESULTSCompared to postnatal closure, 71% of responding pediatric neurosurgeons viewed prenatal closure as either “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable,” and 51% reported being more likely to recommend prenatal surgery in light of MOMS. Compared to pediatric surgeons, neonatologists, and maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric neurosurgeons viewed prenatal MMC repair less favorably (p < 0.001). Responders who believed the surgical risks were high were less likely to view prenatal surgery favorably and were also less likely to recommend prenatal surgery (p < 0.001). The management of hydrocephalus was variable, with 60% of responders using endoscopic third ventriculostomy in addition to ventriculoperitoneal shunts.CONCLUSIONSThe majority of pediatric neurosurgeons have a favorable view of prenatal surgery for MMC following MOMS, although less so than in other specialties. The reported acceptability of surgical risks was strongly predictive of prenatal counseling. Variation in the management of hydrocephalus may impact outcomes following prenatal closure.