Perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes of fetal isolated ventriculomegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Isolated fetal ventriculomegaly can have a range of consequences, ranging from mild neurodevelopmental delay to perinatal death; the extent of these consequences often depend on the severity of ventriculomegaly. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the impact of the degree of ventricular dilatation on the risk of neurodevelopmental delay and adverse perinatal outcomes in fetuses diagnosed with isolated fetal ventriculomegaly from gestational week 15 onwards. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched electronically to identify studies investigating the prognosis of mild and/or severe isolated fetal ventriculomegaly. Articles were included if they reported neurodevelopmental or perinatal outcomes in fetuses prenatally diagnosed with isolated fetal ventriculomegaly from week 15 of gestation and onwards. Studies were excluded if they reported on non-isolated ventriculomegaly (IVM), failed to specify the degree of ventriculomegaly, were non-English papers, animal studies or published outside of the 21-year period of interest. Study quality was assessed by two independent reviewers using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Ventriculomegaly was defined as either mild or severe when ventricular diameter measured as 10-15 or >15 mm, respectively. Meta-analyses were conducted for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, intrauterine fetal demise and infant mortality. Results: Following the removal of duplicates, the search yielded 2,452 citations, of which 23 studies were included and 8 were eligible for meta-analysis. There were 767 and 347 cases of mild and severe isolated fetal ventriculomegaly, respectively. Adverse outcomes were consistently reported at a higher rate in severe cases than mild. The relative risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, intrauterine fetal demise and infant mortality were 4.24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.46-7.30], 4.46 (95% CI: 1.64-12.11) and 6.02 (95% CI: 1.73-21.00), respectively, upon comparison of mild versus severe cases of isolated fetal ventriculomegaly. Conclusions: The likelihood of adverse neurodevelopmental and perinatal outcomes, including intrauterine and infant mortality, is increased in severe isolated fetal ventriculomegaly compared to mild isolated fetal ventriculomegaly.

Fetal growth restriction: How reliable is information available to patients on Google? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To review systematically the quality, readability and credibility of English language webpages offering patient information on fetal growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of patient information was undertaken on Google with location services and browser history disabled. Websites from the first page were included providing they gave at least 300 words of health information on fetal growth restriction aimed at patients. Validated assessment of readability, credibility and quality were undertaken. An accuracy assessment was performed based on international guidance. Characteristics were tabulated. RESULTS: Thirty-one websites including 30 different texts were included. No pages had a reading age of 11 years or less, none were credible, and only one was of high quality. Median accuracy rating was 9/24. CONCLUSION: Patients cannot rely on Google as a source of information on fetal growth restriction. As well as being difficult to read, information tends to be low quality, low accuracy and not credible. Healthcare professionals must consider how to enable access to high-quality patient information and give time for discussion of information patients have found: failure to do so may disenfranchise patients.

Functional assessment of brain development in fetuses that subsequently deliver very preterm: An MRI pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes occurring in the fetal brain prior to very preterm delivery using MRI T2* relaxometry, an indirect assessment of tissue perfusion. METHOD: Fetuses that subsequently delivered spontaneously <32 weeks gestation and a control cohort were identified from pre-existing datasets. Participants had undergone a 3T MRI assessment including T2* relaxometry of the fetal brain using a 2D multi-slice gradient echo single shot echo planar imaging sequence. T2* maps were generated, supratentorial brain tissue was manually segmented and mean T2* values were generated. Groups were compared using quadratic regression. RESULTS: Twenty five fetuses that subsequently delivered <32 weeks and 67 that delivered at term were included. Mean gestation at MRI was 24.5 weeks (SD 3.3) and 25.4 weeks (SD 3.1) and gestation at delivery 25.5 weeks (SD 3.4) and 39.7 weeks (SD 1.2) in the preterm and term cohorts respectively. Brain mean T2* values were significantly lower in fetuses that subsequently delivered before 32 weeks gestation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Alterations in brain maturation appear to occur prior to preterm delivery. Further work is required to explore these associations, but these findings suggest a potential window for therapeutic neuroprotective agents in fetuses at high risk of preterm delivery in the future.

Outcomes of urinary tract abnormalities diagnosed by the routine third trimester scan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) detected for the first time in an unselected population undergoing a routine third trimester scan between 30-34 week's gestation. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 8562 routine third trimester ultrasound scans during which the fetal anatomy was evaluated, and, any structural abnormalities detected, recorded onto a fetal database which was subsequently analysed for CAKUT. All postnatal records of antenatally diagnosed CAKUT were obtained and analysed for diagnosis and management. RESULTS: There were 26 cases of urological abnormalities detected for the first time in the third trimester. The most frequent abnormality was unilateral renal pelvis dilatation (73%). Postnatal ultrasound confirmed abnormalities in 19 (73%) newborns, with two (8%) resolving antenatally and four (15%) postnatally. The overall incidence of new CAKUT detected by the third trimester scan was 0.22% (19/8562) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Four patients required surgery, two received cystoscopic injection of Deflux with circumcision, one received cystoscopic valve ablation and one patient received a staged hypospadias repair. CONCLUSION: Routine third trimester scanning is already performed in many countries with proposed benefits primarily directed towards the monitoring of fetal growth and late pregnancy malpresentation. For healthcare systems that still utilize two routine scans, debate is ongoing as to the value of introducing a routine third trimester scan. The ability to detect additional and potentially missed CAKUT is a further benefit, which in isolation is likely of too small an impact to merit implementation. However, the combination of fetal structural assessment, growth velocity monitoring and fetal presentation evaluation presents a strong case for inclusion in an antenatal screening program. The findings of this study highlight the importance of a detailed fetal structural evaluation at each antenatal ultrasound scan.

The value of the routine third trimester ultrasound scan in antenatal care: Problems with guidance and outdated data in a highly technological field.

Ultrasound scanning is a cornerstone of modern antenatal care, enabling the detection of fetal abnormalities such as congenital disease, chromosomal defects and growth-disorders as well as maternal diseases such as pre-eclampsia. As technology and techniques evolve, care paradigms and clinical guidance must be re-evaluated with current literature so as to provide expectant parents with the highest quality of care. We present here the current state of the literature, the conflict between guidance and research endeavours and present suggestions for future study.

Spina bifida in pregnancy: A review of the evidence for preconception, antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care.

Women with spina bifida in pregnancy require complex multi-disciplinary management. Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies; however, complications are more frequent than in 'low risk' pregnancies. Careful antenatal planning and management of the complications can optimise outcome. There are currently no guidelines on the management of pregnant women with spina bifida, but there is a growing body of evidence from case reports and series examining the antenatal and postnatal course of these women. In this review, we examine the available literature and provide a framework on the prenatal counselling, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal management of pregnant women with spina bifida.

Successful outcome after spontaneous first trimester intra-amniotic haematoma and early preterm premature rupture of membranes.

A spontaneous intra-amniotic haematoma is a rare cause of preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) but can have significant fetal and maternal consequences. It has previously been reported to occur in the second and third trimesters but not in an earlier gestation. We present a case that presented acutely in the first trimester of pregnancy, which leads to early PPROM at 15 weeks and spontaneous preterm delivery at 28 weeks of gestation. There were no maternal complications during the pregnancy.

A retrospective multicenter study of the natural history of fetal ovarian cysts.

AIM: We investigated the natural history of fetal ovarian cysts to estimate the risk of torsion according to size. METHODS: Cases were identified from 1/1/2000 until 1/1/2015. Data were collected pre- and postnatally on cyst size and sonographic features until an outcome of surgery, torsion, or resolution. Fisher's exact test for categorical data and logistic regression for continuous data were used to test the significance of size on torsion; P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 37 patients with unilateral ovarian cysts were included. 12 (32%) resolved spontaneously prenatally, 14 (38%) resolved spontaneously postnatally, 5 (14%) underwent surgery postnatally and 6 (16%) cases underwent torsion. Rate of torsion increased with size from 0% (n=0) in cysts ≤20mm to 33% (n=2) in cysts >50mm; however, the overall trend failed to reach statistical significance (P=0.1). Cysts of 0-40mm had a significantly higher rate of spontaneous resolution (90% vs. 44% in >40mm, P=0.003), but the rate of torsion was not significantly different (10% in 0-40mm vs. 25% in >40mm, P=0.26). The median time to postnatal resolution was 10 (5-27) weeks in those treated conservatively. CONCLUSION: Cysts >40mm are significantly less likely to resolve spontaneously; however torsion showed no significant correlation with cyst size. No complications were observed in cysts <20mm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series with no comparison group.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on fetal ovarian cysts: impact of size, appearance and prenatal aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to compare outcomes of ultrasound-guided aspiration of fetal ovarian cysts with conservative management. METHOD: A systematic review of MEDLINE and Web of Science included studies reporting outcomes (prenatal and postnatal torsion, spontaneous resolution and surgery) of fetuses with ovarian cysts. Subgroup analysis was performed according to cyst diameter at diagnosis and cysts ≥40 mm. RESULTS: Ninety-two non-randomised studies reported on 380 cysts (324 observed and 56 aspirated in utero) in 365 fetuses. All studies were case reports or series with high heterogeneity and risk of bias. The overall spontaneous resolution rate of conservatively managed cysts was 46%, yet decreased with increasing cyst size. Risk of prenatal ovarian torsion in conservatively managed cases depended on cyst size and was particularly important in the range 30 to 59 mm (15-34%). The rate of prenatal torsion in simple cysts ≥40 mm was lower in aspirated than conservatively managed cysts (0% vs 10%, p = 0.03). Aspirated cysts had lower rates of postnatal surgery (7%) compared with conservatively managed cysts (49%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cysts 30 to 59 mm were at highest risk of torsion. Simple cysts >40 mm had lower rates of torsion when aspirated prenatally. Randomised studies and safety data are needed prior to routine prenatal ovarian cyst aspiration. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Uterine artery Doppler at 30-33 weeks' gestation in the prediction of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential value of measuring uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) at 30-33 weeks' gestation in the prediction of preeclampsia (PE) developing at or after 34 weeks. METHODS: Screening study in singleton pregnancies at 30-33 weeks' gestation including 4,294 cases that were unaffected by PE, gestational hypertension (GH) or delivery of small for gestational age neonates (normal group), 145 that subsequently developed PE, with 37 cases requiring delivery at 34-37 weeks (intermediate-PE) and 108 delivering at or after 38 weeks (late-PE) and 161 that developed GH. The a priori risks for intermediate- and late-PE from maternal demographic characteristics and medical history were derived by logistic regression analysis. The a posteriori risks were calculated by combining the a priori risks with the likelihood ratios for uterine artery PI, which were calculated from fitted bivariate gaussian distributions. RESULTS: In screening for PE by a combination of maternal characteristics and uterine artery PI, the estimated detection rates of intermediate- and late-PE, at a false-positive rate of 10%, were 70.3 and 54.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined testing by maternal characteristics and uterine artery PI at 30-33 weeks could effectively identify women at high risk for subsequent development of PE.

Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure at 30-33 weeks in the prediction of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential value of measuring mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic (sBP) and diastolic (dBP) blood pressure at 30-33 weeks' gestation in the prediction of preeclampsia (PE) developing at or after 34 weeks. METHODS: Screening study in singleton pregnancies at 30-33 weeks' gestation including 4,294 that were unaffected by PE, gestational hypertension (GH) or delivery of small-for-gestational-age neonates (normal group), 145 that subsequently developed PE [37 cases requiring delivery at 34-37 weeks (intermediate PE) and 108 delivering at or after 38 weeks (late PE)] and 161 that developed GH. The a priori risks for intermediate and late PE from maternal demographic characteristics and medical history were determined. The a posteriori risks were calculated by combining the a priori risks with the likelihood ratios for MAP, sBP and dBP, which were calculated from fitted bivariate gaussian distributions. RESULTS: The mean multiple of median MAP, sBP and dBP were significantly higher in the intermediate and late PE groups than in the normal group. In screening by a combination of maternal characteristics and MAP, the estimated detection rates of intermediate and late PE, at a false-positive rate of 10%, were 70.3 and 62.0%, respectively. The respective detection rates for sBP were 62.2 and 59.3% and for dBP were 62.2 and 57.4%. CONCLUSION: Combined testing by maternal characteristics and blood pressure at 30-33 weeks could effectively identify women at high risk for subsequent development of PE.

C-reactive protein at 11-13 weeks' gestation in spontaneous early preterm delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential value of maternal serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the first trimester of pregnancy in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery. METHODS: Maternal serum concentration of high-sensitivity CRP at 11-13 weeks' gestation was measured in a case-control study of singleton pregnancies delivering phenotypically normal neonates, including 30 cases with spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks, with 15 cases presenting with contractions and 15 cases presenting with preterm premature rupture of membranes, and 90 matched controls delivering after 37 weeks. The median multiple of the median (MoM) serum CRP in the two outcome groups was compared. RESULTS: The median serum CRP MoM was not significantly different in the spontaneous early preterm delivery group compared to the term delivery group (1.101, IQR = 0.572-1.985 vs. 0.975, IQR = 0.577-1.923; p = 0.813). The prevalence of CRP MoM above the 75th percentile was not significantly different between the early preterm delivery group compared to the term delivery group (26.7 vs. 24.4%; p = 0.811). In the preterm delivery group, the median serum CRP MoM in those presenting with contractions was not significantly different from those presenting with PPROM (1.175, IQR = 0.403-2.122 vs. 1.027, IQR = 0.659-1.940; p = 0.713). High-sensitivity CRP did not significantly improve prediction for preterm delivery over regular CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of maternal serum CRP at 11-13 weeks is unlikely to be useful in screening for spontaneous early preterm delivery.

Maternal serum ferritin at 11- to 13-week gestation in spontaneous early preterm delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential value of maternal serum level of ferritin in the first trimester of pregnancy in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery. METHODS: Maternal serum concentration of ferritin at 11-13-week gestation was measured in a case-control study of singleton pregnancies delivering phenotypically normal neonates, including 30 cases with spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks and 90 matched controls delivering after 37 weeks. The median multiple of the median (MoM) serum ferritin in the two outcome groups was compared. RESULTS: The median serum ferritin MoM was not significantly different in the spontaneous early preterm delivery group compared with the term delivery group (1.143, interquartile range [IQR] 0.578-2.383 vs. 1.059, IQR 0.641-1.644, p = 0.725). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of maternal serum ferritin at 11-13 weeks is unlikely to be useful in screening for spontaneous early preterm delivery.