Open AccessUpdate on prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery for myelomeningocele
Author(s) -
Christian Meller,
D. Covini,
Horacio Aiello,
Gustavo Izbizky,
Santiago Portillo Medina,
Lucas Otaño
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
archivos argentinos de pediatría
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1668-3501
pISSN - 0325-0075
DOI - 10.5546/aap.2021.eng.e215
Subject(s) - medicine , fetal surgery , fetus , obstetrics , prenatal diagnosis , gynecology , pregnancy , in utero , genetics , biology
A seminal study titled Management of Myelomeningocele Study, from 2011, demonstrated that prenatal myelomeningocele defect repaired before 26 weeks of gestation improved neurological outcomes; based on this study, fetal surgery was introduced as a standard of care alternative. Thus, prenatal myelomeningocele diagnosis within the therapeutic window became a mandatory goal; therefore, research efforts on screening strategies were intensified, especially in the first trimester. In addition, different fetal surgery techniques were developed to improve neurological outcomes and reduce maternal risks. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the advances in prenatal screening and diagnosis during the first and second trimesters, and in open and fetoscopic fetal surgery for myelomeningocele.