Incidence of gastro-intestinal anomalies and surgical outcome of fetuses diagnosed with echogenic bowel and bowel dilatation

First real-world study of fetal therapy with CFTR modulators in cystic fibrosis: Report from the MODUL-CF study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to build a cohort of Maternal-Cystic Fibrosis (CF) fetal dyads treated in utero with Variant Specific Therapy (VST), to assess the efficacy on Meconium Ileus (MI) and potential adverse effects of treatment.

METHODS

Dyads were included if the foetus had a genetic diagnosis of CF and carried at least one variant responsive to VST. Standardized assessment included pre-VST Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), repeated ultrasound (US), and VST drug concentrations in cord blood, maternal and infant plasma.

RESULTS

We enrolled 13 dyads. One withdrew from the study. VST therapies (Elexacaftor (ELX)/Tezacaftor (TEZ)/Ivacaftor(IVA) (ETI) n = 11, ivacaftor (IVA) n = 1) were administered to the pregnant women between 19 and 36 weeks' of gestation for a median[IQR] of 35[55] days, either as a curative indication of MI (n = 8) or as a tertiary prevention of fetal CF-related intestinal symptoms (n = 4). One foetus experienced increased bowel dilatation after ETI introduction. MRI revealed intestinal atresia. One dyad received only 2 doses. In the other 6 cases, resolution of MI was observed within 14[10] days of ETI. Fetal development and neonatal tolerance were excellent. Fecal elastase at birth was always below 200 ng/g even in the ETI breast-fed infant. Cord-to-maternal concentration yielded median ratios of 0.40 for ELX, 0.54 for IVA and 1.59 for TEZ.

CONCLUSION

ETI administration from the third trimester of pregnancy enables MI resolution. Trans-placental transfer is high. Fetal tolerance at ETI initiation needs to be monitored by a standardized assessment.

Echogenic bowel on the second-trimester ultrasound as an indicator of jejunal atresia: a case report

Introduction and importance

Fetal echogenic bowel (FEB) is a finding on prenatal ultrasound characterized by increased echogenicity of the fetal intestine. In this study we present a case of FEB with severe bowel dilatation identified on second-trimester ultrasound that was subsequently diagnosed with jejunal atresia postnatally.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old primigravida woman was referred to our perinatology clinic at 18 weeks/3 days gestational age for a fetal anomaly scan. The anomaly scan examination identified grade 3 fetal bowel hyperechogenicity. The results of the fetal echocardiogram and maternal serum screening for TORCH infections were normal, and the NIPT analysis showed low-risk results for chromosomal aneuploidies.

Clinical discussion

In our case, the fetal bowel diameter measured 21 mm at 29 weeks/6 days gestational age, which significantly exceeded the established clinical cut-off value for fetal bowel dilatation. This timing is crucial because if a specific problem is detected in the ultrasound that indicates an abortion of the fetus, it can only be performed legally under the 19th week of pregnancy; otherwise, termination of pregnancy is considered illegal according to the policies of this country.

Conclusion

Nowadays, ultrasonography is a non-invasive tool that facilitates the early detection of many prenatal problems. In this case, with the early detection of FEB and further investigations, we were able to safely manage the pregnancy until the 39th week of pregnancy and plan the delivery in a tertiary referral center to ensure the availability of intensive care for the baby at birth.

Hyperechogenic fetal bowel: Current evidence-based prenatal diagnosis and management

Echogenic fetal bowel (EB) is a prenatal ultrasound finding (0.2%-1.4% of all pregnancies) defined as bowel of similar or greater echogenicity than surrounding bone. In fact, the ultrasound assessment is strongly subjective with inter-observer variability. The pathophysiology depends on the underlying condition, apparently related with meconium stasis and hypercellularity. It is often an isolated finding, with possible association with other structural anomalies. About the origin, it was observed in fetuses with cystic fibrosis, congenital infections, thalassemia, intraamniotic bleeding, fetal growth restriction. Fetuses with EB are at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome, such as intrauterine growth restriction, placental dysfunction and perinatal death, highlighting the need for a thorough antenatal management and post-natal follow-up. It seems to be associated with a plenty of conditions, such as a poor fetal outcome, fetal growth restriction and placental dysfunction. Therefore management requires a multidisciplinary approach with different specialties' involvement and the prognosis is influenced by the underlying pathophysiology. In this complex scenario, the present review aims to define the clinical pathway which should be offered to pregnant women in case of finding of fetal EB ultrasound marker, to rule out any suspected pathological cause.

Assessment of Amniotic Fluid Volume in Pregnancy

Amniotic fluid (AF) is an integral part of the fetal environment and is essential for fetal growth and development. Pathways of AF recirculation include the fetal lungs, swallowing, absorption through the fetal gastrointestinal tract, excretion through fetal urine production, and movement. In addition to being a marker for fetal health, adequate AF is necessary for fetal lung development, growth, and movement. The role of diagnostic imaging is to provide a detailed fetal survey, placental evaluation, and clinical correlation with maternal conditions to help identify causes of AF abnormalities and thereby enable specific therapy. Oligohydramnios prompts evaluation for fetal growth restriction as well as genitourinary issues, including renal agenesis, multicystic dysplastic kidneys, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and bladder outlet obstruction. Premature preterm rupture of membranes should also be clinically excluded as a cause of oligohydramnios. Clinical trials evaluating amnioinfusion are underway as a potential intervention for renal causes of oligohydramnios. Most cases of polyhydramnios are idiopathic, with maternal diabetes being a common cause. Polyhydramnios prompts evaluation for fetal gastrointestinal obstruction and oropharyngeal or thoracic masses, as well as neurologic or musculoskeletal anomalies. Amnioreduction is performed only for maternal indications such as symptomatic polyhydramnios causing maternal respiratory distress. Polyhydramnios with fetal growth restriction is paradoxical and can occur with maternal diabetes and hypertension. When these maternal conditions are absent, this raises concern for aneuploidy. The authors describe the pathways of AF production and circulation, US and MRI assessment of AF, disease-specific disruption of AF pathways, and an algorithmic approach to AF abnormalities. ^©RSNA, 2023 Online supplemental material is available for this article. Quiz questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

Early management of meconium ileus in infants with cystic fibrosis: A prospective population cohort study

BACKGROUND

Contemporary early outcome data of meconium Ileus (MI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) are lacking on a population level. We describe these and explore factors associated with successful non-operative management.

METHODS

A prospective population-cohort study using an established surveillance system (BAPS-CASS) was conducted October 2012-September 2014. Live-born infants with bowel-obstruction from inspissated meconium in the terminal ileum and CF were reported. Data are described as median (interquartile range, IQR).

RESULTS

56 infants were identified. 14/56(25%) had primary laparotomy (13/23 complicated MI, 1/33 simple), the remainder underwent contrast enema. Twelve, (12/33 (36%) with simple MI) achieved decompression. 8/12 (67%) who decompressed had >1 enema vs 3/20 (15%) with simple MI who had laparotomy after enema. The number of enemas per infant (1-4), contrast agents and their concentration, were highly variable. Enterostomy was formed at 24/44(55%) of laparotomies. In infants with simple MI, time to full enteral feeds was 6 (2-10) days in those decompressing with enema vs 15 (9-19) days with laparotomy after enema. Case fatality was 4% (95% CI 0.4-12%). Two infants, both preterm died, both in the second month after birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with simple MI achieving successful enema decompression were more likely to have had repeat enemas than those who proceeded to laparotomy. Successful non-operative management was associated with a shorter time to full feeds. The early management of infants with MI is highly variable and not standardised across the UK and Ireland.

Fetal sigmoid colon mesentery made visible by routine ultrasound in the first and second trimester of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound is a routine procedure performed during pregnancy to monitor the status of the human fetus, including the development of the digestive tract. The aim of this publication was to determine the shape of the fetal sigmoid colon mesentery during the first and second trimester of pregnancy by means of ultrasound.

METHODS

The study was performed in 45 pregnant women (age: 36.4 years on average, range 25-45) during a routine ultrasound examination. The fetuses were between 12 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. The shape of the fetal sigmoid colon mesentery was analyzed.

RESULTS

We visualized the triangular shape of the mesentery in all 45 cases. A prevalence of scalene or isosceles acute triangles was found in both trimesters. At the 12-13 weeks we observed 5 different forms of mesenteric triangles - the scalene or isosceles acute triangles appeared at 33.3% and 28.6%, respectively. The obtuse scalene was present in 23.8 %. In the 2nd trimester (20-22 weeks) 4 types were found, among them 37.5 % acute scalene and 33.3 % acute isosceles.

CONCLUSIONS

The fetal sigmoid colon mesentery can be visualized from the 12th week of pregnancy. The triangular shape of the sigmoid colon mesentery is easy to follow during routine ultrasound examinations.