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Systematic classification of maternal and fetal intervention‐related complications following open fetal myelomeningocele repair – results from a large prospective cohort
Author(s) -
Vonzun L,
Kahr MK,
Noll F,
Mazzone L,
Moehrlen U,
Meuli M,
Hüsler M,
Krähenmann F,
Zimmermann R,
OchsenbeinKölble N
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.16593
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , prospective cohort study , obstetrics , fetal surgery , gestational age , population , cohort , complication , cohort study , pregnancy , pediatrics , surgery , in utero , genetics , environmental health , biology
Objective To systematically categorise all maternal and fetal intervention‐related complications after open fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair of the first 124 cases operated at the Zurich Centre for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Single centre. Population Mothers and fetuses after fMMC repair. Methods Between 2010 and 2019, we collected and entered all maternal complications following fMMC repair into the Clavien–Dindo classification. For fetal complications, a classification system based on the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities terminology of Adverse Events was used including the preterm definitions of the World Health Organization. Main outcome measures Systematic classification of maternal and fetal complications following fMMC repair. Results Gestational ages at surgery and birth were 25.0 ± 0.8 and 35.4 ± 2.0 weeks, respectively. In 17% of all cases, no maternal complications occurred. Maternal intervention‐related complications were observed as follows: 69% grade 1, 36% grade 2, 25% grade 3, 6% grade 4 and 0% grade 5. In 34%, no fetal complications were noted; however, 43% of the fetuses developed a grade 1, 14% a grade 2, 8% a grade 3, 2% a grade 4 and 2% a grade 5 complication. Conclusion This study raises awareness of complications following open fMMC repair; 6% of mothers and 2% of fetuses experienced a severe complication (grade 4) and perinatal death rate of 2% was observed (grade 5). These data are useful for prenatal counselling, they help to improve the system of fetal surgical care, and they allow benchmarking with other centres as well as comparison with fetoscopic approaches. Tweetable abstract Systematic classification of all maternal and fetal intervention‐related complications following open fMMC repair.