"Lethal anomalies"

Objective To determine the association between pre-gravid obesity and stillbirth. Methods A retrospective study of a population-based dataset of births at ≥34 weeks' gestation. We excluded fetal deaths due to lethal anomalies and intrapartum fetal deaths. We calculated the incidence of stillbirths, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions per ongoing pregnancies for each gestational week in the two body mass index (BMI) categories (≥30 vs.<30). Results Pre-pregnancy obesity (BMI≥30), pre-pregnancy diabetes, oligo- and polyhydramnios, being small for gestational age (SGA) and preeclampsia were significantly associated with stillbirth...

BACKGROUND: Decisions regarding provision of intensive care and post-discharge follow-up for infants born extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestation) are based on the risks of mortality and neurodevelopmental disability. We aimed to elucidate the changes in probability of three outcomes (death, survival with major disability, and survival without major disability) with postnatal age in extremely preterm infants offered intensive care, and the effect of postnatal events on the probability of survival without major disability...

Objective: In 2010, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) published a new clinical practice guideline on trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) that was considered less restrictive. It allowed for offering TOLAC to women with two prior cesarean deliveries, even without a prior vaginal delivery, and for labor induction. As a result, our hospital, a public tertiary care academic center, updated our TOLAC practice guideline to reflect ACOG's new recommendations. We thus aim to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes for women undergoing TOLAC with 1 versus 2 prior cesareans, with and without a prior vaginal delivery, following these clinical practice changes at our hospital...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there was an association between the systematic promotion of twin vaginal delivery and an increase in the rates of twin vaginal birth. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. We implemented a quality improvement initiative promoting twin vaginal delivery at an academic tertiary care center in 2013. The program included a needs assessment, simulation of vaginal twin delivery, online educational material, and the expansion of a dedicated twin clinic...

Pena-Shokeir phenotype is a lethal anomaly characterized by neurogenic arthrogryposis, craniofacial anomalies, and pulmonary hypoplasia. This syndrome should be distinguished from trisomy 18 and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita for better counseling and establishing fetal prognosis. We present the case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with a Pena-Shokeir phenotype affected fetus at 24 weeks of gestation. Prenatal ultrasonography and fetal magnetic resonance imaging detected persistent hyperextension of the lumbar spine, micrognathia, absent septum pellucidum, and all characteristic features of Pena-Shokeir phenotype...

Congenital Diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition characterized by a defect in the diaphragm leading to protrusion of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity interfering with normal development of the lungs. The defect may range from a small aperture in the posterior muscle rim to complete absence of diaphragm. The pathophysiology of CDH is a combination of lung hypoplasia and immaturity associated with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) and cardiac dysfunction. Prenatal assessment of lung to head ratio (LHR) and position of the liver by ultrasound are used to diagnose and predict outcomes...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal-neonatal morbidity for women undergoing trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) following clinical practice changes based upon ACOG's 2010 VBAC guideline. STUDY DESIGN: Four-year retrospective cohort analysis around implementation of a hospital guideline in women undergoing TOLAC with a live, cephalic, singleton without lethal anomaly ≥24 weeks and ≥1 prior cesarean. Maternal-neonatal outcomes pre- and post-guideline implementation were compared...

Tracheal agenesis is an extremely rare congenital anomaly involving the respiratory system. It is generally associated with anomalies of other systems. Antenatal diagnosis of this condition is difficult; therefore, it presents as a medical emergency in the labor room. Intubation in these babies is difficult. As many of these babies are born prematurely, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) adds to the management difficulties. Here, we describe two babies with this lethal anomaly and RDS where esophageal intubation and surfactant therapy proved beneficial...

Advances in prenatal diagnosis create a unique set of clinical ethics dilemmas. Doctors routinely obtain genetic screening, radiologic images, and biophysical profiling. These allow more accurate diagnosis and prognosis than has ever before been possible. However, they also reveal a wider range of disease manifestations than were apparent when prenatal diagnosis was less sophisticated. Sometimes, the best estimates of prognosis turn out to be wrong. The infant's symptoms may be less severe or more severe than anticipated based on prenatal assessment...

BACKGROUND: Delayed repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) for days or longer has become standard, allowing improved stabilization for many, but potentially complicating treatment in severely affected infants who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and arrive unrepaired. Survival in left liver-up CDH, the most severe anatomic subset, averages 45% in published studies, with deaths often occurring in patients who failed to improve on ECMO and are repaired late, or not at all...

OBJECTIVES: To assess short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity from inductions of labor (IOL) in well-dated (WD) pregnancies (dating ultrasound [US] <20 0/7 weeks) versus non-well-dated (NWD) pregnancies when applying National Institutes of Health/Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists delivery recommendations at ≥34 0/7 weeks. METHODS: Ours was a 1-year retrospective cohort of women with medically indicated IOL between 34 0/7 and 40 6/7 weeks with a live, cephalic, singleton gestation and no lethal anomaly...

BACKGROUND: Parent counselling and decision-making regarding the management of preterm labour and birth are influenced by information provided by healthcare professionals regarding potential infant outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether perinatal healthcare providers had accurate perceptions of survival and major neurosensory disability rates of very preterm infants born in non-tertiary hospitals ('outborn') and tertiary perinatal centres ('inborn')...

Objectives Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a rare, often lethal anomaly associated with poor outcomes. Given the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and cardiovascular complications, we tested the hypotheses that (1) a subgroup of neonates with severe BPD develop PVS (BPD-PVS) and have worse outcomes than do neonates with severe BPD alone (BPD); (2) among a cohort of neonates with severe BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH), PVS is an additional risk factor for adverse outcomes and mortality...

Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence is a syndrome with poor prognosis, seen only in monochorionic monozygotic twin pregnancies. The incidence is one in 35.000 births and one in 100 monozygotic twin pregnancies. It is characterized with a recipient fetus exhibiting lethal anomalies including acardia and a pump fetus. Mortality is usually due to heart failure or premature labor caused by polyhydramnios of pump fetus. Herein, we report a case of TRAP sequence that emphasizes the importance of gray-scale and color Doppler imaging in the diagnosis and management of TRAP sequence...

BACKGROUND: Myelomeningocele (MMC) represents the first nonlethal anomaly to be treated by prenatal intervention. Case series and a prospective, randomized study show that fetal surgery for MMC before 26 weeks' gestation may preserve neurological function. Long-term follow-up is a fundamental component to evaluate the overall efficacy of any new medical or surgical procedure. To further delineate the long-term impact of fMMC surgery, we continued to follow children treated in our institution before the Management of Myelomeningocele Study trial by the means of parental questionnaires to assess changes in functional, developmental, and cognitive status as these unique patients grow older...

PURPOSE: Centers that care for newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) may impose selection criteria for offering or limiting aggressive support in those patients most severely affected. The purpose of this study was to analyze outcomes in newborns with highly severe CDH uniformly treated for survival. METHODS: We reviewed 172 consecutive inborn patients without associated lethal anomalies treated at a single institution with a dedicated CDH program...

Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are conditions often referred to as "incompatible with life" or "lethal anomalies." If there is long-term survival, the outlook is considered "grim." Developmental status is presumed to be minimal. Yet, Baty et al. [1994; 49:189-194] described a variety of developmental skills in their sample. An additional 22 children with trisomy 18 and eight with trisomy 13 are described here. A range of developmental skills is noted with strengths in the language and communication, gross and fine motor and social-emotional domains including indicating preferences, exploration of objects and a range of voluntary mobility...

OBJECTIVE: To examine short-term and longer-term outcomes for twins born at or near term, comparing prelabor cesarean delivery with birth after a trial of labor. METHODS: This study was conducted on a retrospective cohort of twin pregnancies delivered at 36 weeks of gestation or greater from 2000 to 2009. Pregnancies with an antenatal death, lethal anomaly, birth weight discordance 25% or more, or birth weight less than 2,000 g or more than 4,000 g were excluded...

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to ascertain the practices and opinions of US maternal-fetal medicine specialists regarding termination of pregnancy as a management option following late diagnosis of lethal fetal anomalies. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional mail survey of all US members of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine to ascertain how they manage pregnancies diagnosed with lethal fetal anomalies after 24 weeks of gestation. We analyzed the proportion of respondents that discuss termination of pregnancy as a management option, barriers to offering or accessing late termination services, and respondents' opinions about what anomalies are lethal and when pregnancy termination should be permitted...

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of prenatal fetal diagnoses of non-lethal anomalies on the psychological well-being of pregnant women throughout their pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire (the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) to assess their anxiety levels at multiple follow-up visits. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 pregnant women after completion of the questionnaire...