Major craniofacial defects: case series and prenatal diagnosis at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prenatal diagnosis, characteristics, development, perinatal outcome, and final diagnosis of pregnancies complicated by fetuses with major craniofacial defects, at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, México, 1997-2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study from January of 1997 to January 2008, analyzed 152 pregnancies complicated by fetuses with major craniofacial defects, diagnosed at the Department of Fetal Medicine of the National Institute of Perinatology. Data were obtained from patients clinical records. RESULTS: . The mean age was 28 +/- 8 years, with the largest number of cases between 20 and 24. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 27.5 +/- 6.4 gestational weeks. The average termination of pregnancy was at 35 +/- 5 gestational weeks. In 43.4% of cases there were no major structural defects associated with the facial defect. The most commonly associated structural alterations were cerebral, cardiac, and limb abnormalities. Karyotyping was performed in only 57 cases, and was abnormal in 25. CONCLUSIONS: Structural ultrasound should be performed on all pregnant women between weeks 18 and 24 for detection of major craniofacial defects. Where defects are found, a thorough review of other structures should be carried out to determine whether the defects are syndromic. A systematic and multidisciplinary approach is essential to providing the best care and appropriate advice to parents.

[Application of a technique to establish criteria for uterine length measurement]. / Aplicación de un método para establecer los criterios de la medición del fondo uterino.

BACKGROUND: The uterine length measurement is a routine practice in the prenatal care of pregnant women. It has been attributed a sensibility of 86% to detect fetal grown restriction. The technique is easy to perform and reproducible between observers, although we have found variation between intra- and inter-observers measurements. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the useful of a maneuver to improve the reliability of the uterine length measurement in a group of obstetrics residents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The measurement was performed on pregnant women. The results were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient to evaluate the concordance between observers based in a variance analysis model (ANOVA) of repeated measurements. RESULTS: There were not differences between groups about demographic variables. All residents improve the reliability in their measurements. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.77 (confidence interval 0.63-0.88) before the maneuver, and after this one the intra-class correlation coefficient improved to 0.96 (confidence interval 0.92-0.98). CONCLUSION: The uterine measurement following detailed indications improve the interobserver concordance. We think it is advisable to evaluate the use of this maneuver in a routine way in our institute and in other places that bring prenatal care.

[Thoracoamniotic shunts and thoracocentesis in fetal therapy]. / Derivaciones toracoamnióticas y toracocentesis en el tratamiento fetal.

BACKGROUND: The not heart thoracic anomalies are caused by different abnormalities in the embryonic period with similar physiopathologic mechanisms. The prenatal treatment by means of decompression can improve substantially the clinical results in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in a qualitative way, the effect of the thoracoamniotic shunts and thoracocentesis in the perinatal outcome in fetuses with not heart thoracic anomalies. METHODS: Twenty-two articles were revised describing 308 cases of fetuses with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), 25 cases of hydrothorax and 55 cases of broncopulmonary sequestration (BPS). We analyzed the adverse prognostic factors that indicated the treatment election in uterus as well as complications and perinatal outcome. RESULTS: Of the 388 cases of not heart thoracic anomalies, 250 fetuses were managed conservatively, and in 102 fetuses handling in uterus was started. Hydrops was identified as the worst prognostic factor to these fetuses, with a survival rate of 55.7%. The global survival was of 56.5% (155 cases) in the fetuses with CCAM, 98.1% (52 cases) in the fetuses with BPS and of 80% (20 cases) in the fetuses with hydrothorax. CONCLUSIONS: When having a fetus with some of these pathologies, it should be evaluated in an individual and integral way; according to the gestational age when diagnosed, as well as the type of lesion and the presence or absence of fetal dropsy to decide between fetal therapy or expectant handling.

[Doppler ultrasound to detect Rh: a systematic review]. / Ultrasonido doppler para detección rh: una revisión sistemática.

BACKGROUND: Red cell alloimmunization is an important cause of perinatal morbidlity and mortality. Invasive procedures used to diagnose fetal anemia are associated with serious fetal and maternal complications. The development of noninvasive techniques as Doppler ultrasound can help us in the fetal anemia diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the Doppler ultrasound in prediction of fetal anemia caused by red cell alloimmunization. Strategy search: Relevant studies were identified by reviewing the registry of COCHRANE, and OVID, PROQUEST, MEDLINE and EMBASE data bases from 1966 to 2004. SELECTION CRITERIA: All prospective studies with clinically relevant results with comparison of Doppler ultrasound in fetal umbilical artery, fetal descendent aorta, middle cerebral fetal artery or esplecnic fetal artery with hemoglobin or fetal hematocrit. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted from each report. The quality revision of the studies and the data compilation were made by the reviewers. MAIN RESULTS: Eighteen articles were included. Two studies reached the level of evidence 1 for diagnostic tests. The diagnostic tests had variations depending on the different cut-off of each study. Studies with level 1 of evidence reported detection of 100% for moderate to severe fetal anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of Doppler ultrasound for prediction of fetal anemia in complicated pregnancies with alloimmunization could reduce the number of invasive procedures and therefore its complications. The level of present evidence reveals to us that the studies do not fulfill the criteria of methodological quality.