Correlation of fetal ventricular size and need for postnatal cerebrospinal fluid diversion surgery in open spina bifida.

OBJECTIVES: Open spina bifida is a common cause of hydrocephalus in the postnatal period. In-utero closure of the fetal spinal defect decreases the need for postnatal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion surgery. Good prenatal predictors of the need for postnatal CSF diversion surgery are currently lacking. In this study, we aimed to assess the association of fetal ventriculomegaly and its progression over the course of pregnancy with the rate of postnatal hydrocephalus requiring intervention. METHODS: In this retrospective study, fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of open spina bifida were assessed longitudinally. Ventricular diameter, as well as other potential predictors of the need for postnatal CSF diversion surgery, were compared between fetuses undergoing prenatal closure and those undergoing postnatal repair. RESULTS: The diameter of the lateral ventricle increased significantly throughout gestation in both groups, but there was no difference in maximum ventricular diameter at first or last assessment between fetuses undergoing prenatal closure and those undergoing postnatal repair. There was no significant difference in the rate of progression of ventriculomegaly between the two groups, with a mean progression rate of 0.83 ± 0.5 mm/week in the prenatal-repair group and 0.6 ± 0.6 mm/week in the postnatal-repair group (P = 0.098). Fetal repair of open spina bifida was associated with a lower rate of postnatal CSF diversion surgery (P < 0.001). In all subjects, regardless of whether they had prenatal or postnatal surgery, the severity of ventriculomegaly at first and last assessments was associated independently with the need for postnatal CSF diversion surgery (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively), with a greater need for surgery in fetuses with larger ventricular size, even after controlling for gestational age at assessment. CONCLUSIONS: In fetuses with open spina bifida, fetal ventricular size increases regardless of whether spina bifida closure is performed prenatally or postnatally, but the need for CSF diversion surgery is significantly lower in those undergoing prenatal repair. Ventriculomegaly is associated independently with the need for postnatal CSF diversion in fetuses with open spina bifida, irrespective of timing of closure. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Prevention of pain on injection of propofol: a comparison of remifentanil with alfentanil in children.

AIM: Propofol has a high incidence of pain on injection, particularly when a vein on the back of hand is used. Administration of lidocaine, either before or mixed with propofol remains the most widely used method to attenuate this pain. The use of opioids such as alfentanil and fentanyl has been found to decrease pain induced by propofol injection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of remifentanil and alfentanil in minimizing the pain caused by propofol. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, healthy premedicated children between the age group of 5-12 years admitted for adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated to one of 6 treatment groups. Group I: remifentanil 0.25 microg kg(-1); Group II: remifentanil 0.50 microg kg(-1); Group III: alfentanil 15 microg kg(-1); Group IV: alfentanil 20 microg kg(-1) 60 s prior to propofol mixed with 1 mL of 0.9% normal saline; Group V: lidocaine 1 mL of 1% (10 mg) added to 100 mg of propofol and Group VI: normal saline. During the injection of propofol (3 mg kg(-1)) pain perception was assessed with a four-point behavioural scale: none, mild, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: There were 52 subjects in Group I, 51 in Group II, 49 in Group III, 52 in Group IV, 52 in Group V and 52 in Group VI; 63.46% of patients in Group I, 39.21% in Group II, 38.77% in Group III, 36.53% in Group IV, 38.46% in Group V and 84.61% in Group VI experienced pain. Statistically, Groups II, III, IV and V were significantly better than placebo in the reduction of propofol pain (P<0.0001). Groups II, III and IV significantly reduced the pain in comparison with Group I (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with intravenous remifentanil 0.5 microg kg(-1), alfentanil 15 microg kg(-1) and 20 microg kg(-1) were equally effective in reducing pain associated with propofol injection in children between the age group of 5-12 years.