Outcomes of prenatally diagnosed spontaneous chorioamniotic membrane separation in singleton pregnancies: A systematic review of case series and case reports

Spontaneous Complete Chorioamniotic Membrane Separation in a Fetus With Ileal Atresia and Umbilical Cord Ulcer: A Case Report

Spontaneous complete chorioamniotic membrane separation (cCMS) is rare and associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, such as intrauterine fetal death. Herein, we present a case of spontaneous cCMS in a fetus with ileal atresia and umbilical cord ulcers. In our case, we detected spontaneous cCMS on ultrasonography at 35 weeks of gestation. On the same day, a female infant weighing 2134 g was delivered via cesarean section. Pathological examination of the placenta confirmed cCMS and umbilical cord ulcers. When cCMS is evident in late preterm infants, the fetus should be carefully monitored and considered for delivery.

Comparison of Serial Amnioinfusion Strategies for Isolated Early-Onset Fetal Renal Anhydramnios

INTRODUCTION

The optimal protocol for serial amnioinfusions to maintain amniotic fluid in pregnancies with early-onset fetal renal anhydramnios before 22 weeks is not known. We compared the performance of two different approaches.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted of serial amnioinfusions performed by a single center during the external pilot and feasibility phases of the Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy (RAFT) trial. During the external pilot, higher amnioinfusion volumes were given less frequently; in the feasibility study, smaller volume amnioinfusions were administered more frequently. Procedural details, complications, and obstetric outcomes were compared between the two groups using Pearson's χ2 or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Student's t tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables. The adjusted association between procedural details and chorioamniotic separation was obtained through a multivariate repeated measure logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Eleven participants underwent 159 amnioinfusions (external pilot: 3 patients, 21 amnioinfusions; feasibility: 8 patients, 138 amnioinfusions). External pilot participants had fewer amnioinfusions (7 vs. 19.5 in the feasibility group, p = 0.04), larger amnioinfusion volume (750 vs. 500 mL, p < 0.01), and longer interval between amnioinfusions (6 [4-7] vs. 4 [3-5] days, p < 0.01). In the external pilot, chorioamniotic separation was more common (28.6% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.01), preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurred sooner after amnioinfusion initiation (28 ± 21.5 vs. 75.6 ± 24.1 days, p = 0.03), and duration of maintained amniotic fluid between first and last amnioinfusion was shorter (38 ± 17.3 vs. 71 ± 19 days, p = 0.03), compared to the feasibility group. While delivery gestational age was similar (35.1 ± 1.7 vs. 33.8 ± 1.5 weeks, p = 0.21), feasibility participants maintained amniotic fluid longer.

CONCLUSION

Small volume serial amnioinfusions performed more frequently maintain normal amniotic fluid volume longer because of delayed occurrence of PPROM.

Genetic amniocentesis using atraumatic 29 gauge needle in patients having a chorioamniotic separation

OBJECTIVES

Chorioamniotic separation (CAS) at the time of standard amniocentesis (AC) is a risk factor for postprocedural complications and should be avoided. The aim of this study was to quantify procedure-related risks after AC with a 29G-needle in cases of CAS, and evaluation of perinatal outcome in CAS after 15 weeks' gestation (GW).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of genetic AC with a pencil-point 29G needle after 15 completed GW in pregnancies, in which the fetal membranes were not yet fused. Included into the study were women aged 16-44 years with at least 15 completed GWs referred for second trimester AC to identify fetal chromosomal aberrations.

RESULTS

437 ACs were made in total with the 29G-needle. The median maternal age was 30 (16-44) years. 145 cases showed CAS where the distance between chorion and amnion was 0.10-10.02 mm at AC. 38 pregnancies were terminated, 37 of which had a genetic disorder. The risk of aneuploidy increases by a factor of 2 (95% CI 1.4-2.8) for every 1 mm of CAS enlargement. No procedure-related complications were found up to two weeks after the AC.

CONCLUSIONS

CAS seems to be massively underreported. Early diagnosis in case of CAS is something to strive for as CAS could be an indicator of genetic abnormalities - a "soft marker". With the atraumatic 29G needle, the risk of complications after AC in CAS seems to be very low.

Perinatal outcomes of iatrogenic chorioamniotic separation following fetoscopic surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the perinatal outcomes between pregnancies with and those without iatrogenic chorioamniotic separation (iCAS) following fetoscopic intervention.

METHODS

We performed a search in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar from inception up to December 2020 for studies comparing perinatal outcomes between pregnancies that developed and those that did not develop iCAS after fetoscopic intervention for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), open neural tube defect (ONTD) or congenital diaphragmatic hernia. A random-effects model was used to pool the mean differences (MD) or odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% CI. The primary outcome was neonatal survival. Secondary outcomes included gestational age (GA) at intervention and at delivery, interval from intervention to delivery and incidence of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) and preterm delivery. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

RESULTS

The search identified 348 records, of which seven studies (six on fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for TTTS and one on fetoscopic repair for ONTD) assessed the perinatal outcomes of pregnancies that developed iCAS after fetoscopic intervention. Given that only one study reported on fetoscopic ONTD repair, the meta-analysis was limited to TTTS pregnancies and included six studies (total of 1881 pregnancies). Pregnancies that developed iCAS after FLP for TTTS, compared with those that did not, had significantly lower GA at the time of intervention (weeks) (MD, -1.07 (95% CI, -1.89 to -0.24); P = 0.01) and at delivery (weeks) (MD, -1.74 (95% CI, -3.13 to -0.34); P = 0.01) and significantly lower neonatal survival (OR, 0.41 (95% CI, 0.24-0.70); P = 0.001). In addition, development of iCAS after FLP for TTTS increased significantly the risk for PPROM < 34 weeks' gestation (OR, 3.98 (95% CI, 1.76-9.03); P < 0.001) and preterm delivery < 32 weeks (OR, 1.80 (95% CI, 1.16-2.80); P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

iCAS is a common complication after FLP for TTTS. In patients undergoing FLP for TTTS, iCAS develops more often with earlier GA at intervention and is associated with earlier GA at delivery, higher risk of PPROM < 34 weeks' gestation and preterm delivery < 32 weeks and lower neonatal survival. Given the limitations of this meta-analysis and lack of literature reporting on other types of fetoscopic intervention, the presented findings should be interpreted with caution and should not be generalized to fetoscopic procedures used to treat other fetal conditions. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Feasibility and outcomes of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A Japanese experience

AIM

To present the feasibility, safety and outcomes of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) for the treatment of severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

This was a single-arm clinical trial of FETO for isolated left-sided CDH with liver herniation and Kitano Grade 3 stomach position (>50% stomach herniation into the right chest). FETO was performed at 27-29 weeks of gestation for cases with observed/expected lung to head ratio (o/e LHR) <25% and at 30-31 weeks for cases with o/e LHR ≥25%.

RESULTS

Eleven cases were enrolled between March 2014 and March 2016, and balloon insertion was successful in all cases. The median o/e LHR at entry was 27% (range, 20-33%). The median gestational age at FETO was 30.9 (range, 27.1-31.7) weeks. There were no severe maternal adverse events. One fetus died unexpectedly at 33 weeks of gestation due to cord strangulation by the detached amniotic membrane. There were 3 cases (27%) of preterm premature rupture of membranes. In all 10 cases, balloon removal at 34-35 weeks of gestation was successful. The median gestational age at delivery was 36.5 (range, 34.2-38.3) weeks. The median duration of occlusion and the median interval between balloon insertion and delivery were 26 days (range: 17-49 days) and 43 days (range, 21-66 days), respectively. Both the survival rate at 90 days of age and the rate of survival to discharge were 45% (5/11).

CONCLUSION

The FETO is feasible without maternal morbidity in Japan and could be offered to women whose fetuses show severe isolated left-sided CDH to accelerate fetal lung growth.