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Watananirun K, Vargas AMLF, Vergote S, Lewi L, Filippo MOL, McCulloch P, Devlieger R, Peralta CFA, Deprest J. Length of hysterotomy for fetal spina bifida repair is associated with prematurity risk. Prenat Diagn 2024; 44:644-652. [PMID: 38502037 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether prenatal repair of spina bifida aperta through mini-hysterotomy results in less prematurity, as compared to standard hysterotomy, when adjusting for known prematurity risks. METHODS We performed a bi-centric, propensity score matched, controlled study, that is, adjusting for factors earlier reported to result in premature delivery or membrane rupture, in consecutive women having prenatal repair either through stapled hysterotomy or sutured mini-hysterotomy (≤3.5 cm). Matches were pairwise compared and cox-regression analysis was performed to define the hazard ratio of delivery <37 weeks. RESULTS Of 346 meeting the MOMS-criteria, 78 comparable pairs were available for matched-controlled analysis. Mini-hysterotomy patients were younger and had a higher BMI. Mini-hysterotomy was associated with a 1.67-lower risk of delivery <37 weeks (hazard ratio: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.42-0.85; p = 0.004) and 1.72 for delivery <34 + 6 weeks (hazard ratio: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34-0.97; p = 0.037). The rate of intact uterine scar at birth (mini-hysterotomy: 98.7% vs. hysterotomy: 90.4%; p = 0.070), the rate of reversal of hindbrain herniation within 1 week after surgery (88.9% vs. 97.4%; p = 0.180) and the rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (0% vs. 2.7%; p = 0.50) were comparable. CONCLUSION Prenatal spina bidifa repair through mini-hysterotomy was associated with a later gestational age at delivery and a comparable intact uterus rate without apparent compromise in neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanokwaroon Watananirun
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Women and Child, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Maternal and Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anna M L F Vargas
- The Heart Hospital of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- PROADI-Ministry of Health, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Gestar Fetal Surgery Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simen Vergote
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Women and Child, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Lewi
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Women and Child, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marcelo O L Filippo
- The Heart Hospital of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- PROADI-Ministry of Health, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Gestar Fetal Surgery Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Peter McCulloch
- IDEAL Collaboration, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- IDEAL Collaboration, Nuffield Department of Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Roland Devlieger
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Women and Child, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cleisson F A Peralta
- The Heart Hospital of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- PROADI-Ministry of Health, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Gestar Fetal Surgery Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jan Deprest
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Women and Child, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
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Vergote S, Robmann S, Van Der Merwe J, Richter J, Deprest J, Mazza E. Preterm membranes are mechanically more resistant than term membranes. Prenat Diagn 2024; 44:317-324. [PMID: 38168862 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the biomechanical properties of fetal preterm membranes (20 + 0 weeks to 30 + 0 weeks) to those of the term (37 + 0 to 41 + 0 weeks). METHOD Amnion and chorion were manually separated and samples were cut to the required geometry. Rectangular samples with (mode 1) and without (uniaxial) a notch, were tested for tearing energy, critical elongation, and tangent stiffness. Suture retention and inter-suture distance testing investigated the effect of suture placement. RESULTS From the 15 preterm and 10 term placentas studied, no notable differences were observed in uniaxial testing. Mode 1 fracture testing showed a difference in tearing energy between the preterm and term chorion (0.025 ± 0.005 vs. 0.017 ± 0.005 J/m-1 ; p = 0.027) but not in the amnion (0.030 ± 0.017 vs. 0.029 ± 0.009 J/m-1 ; p = 0.895). Both preterm amnion and chorion showed a higher critical elongation compared with term (1.229 ± 0.057 vs. 1.166 ± 0.046; p = 0.019 and 1.307 ± 0.049 vs. 1.218 ± 0.058; p = 0.012). Preterm amnion had a higher suture retention strength than its term counterpart (0.189 ± 0.065 vs. 0.121 ± 0.031 N; p = 0.023). In inter-suture distance tests, no significant interaction was observed beyond 3 mm, but the preterm chorion showed less interaction at 1-2 mm distances. CONCLUSION Preterm membranes have equivalent or superior tensile properties to term membranes. The chorion appears to contribute to the mechanical integrity of fetal membranes, particularly in preterm stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simen Vergote
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Woman and Child, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Serjosha Robmann
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Van Der Merwe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Woman and Child, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jute Richter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Woman and Child, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Deprest
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster Woman and Child, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Edoardo Mazza
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Haenen K, Vergote S, Kunpalin Y, De Catte L, Devlieger R, Lewi L, van der Merwe J, Russo F, De Vloo P, Lannoo L, Deprest J. Subsequent fertility, pregnancy, and gynaecological and psychological outcomes after maternal-fetal surgery for open spina bifida: A prospective cohort study. BJOG 2023; 130:1677-1684. [PMID: 37272251 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the medium-term maternal impact of open fetal spina bifida repair. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. POPULATION Mothers who had open maternal-fetal spina bifida repair between March 2012 and December 2021. METHODS A patient-reported survey on subsequent fertility, pregnancy, and gynaecological and psychological outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Complications during subsequent pregnancies, and gynaecological and psychological problems. RESULTS Seventy-two out of 100 invited women completed the questionnaire (72%). Despite being advised not to, seven of 13 women attempting to conceive became pregnant within 2 years after fetal surgery and one woman delivered vaginally. Two of the 16 subsequent pregnancies were complicated by an open neural tube defect. One pregnancy was complicated by a placenta accreta and one pregnancy was complicated by a uterine rupture, both with good neonatal outcomes. Nearly half of respondents who did not attempt to conceive reported that this was because of their experience of the index pregnancy and caring for the index child. Three out of four respondents reported medium-term psychological problems, mostly anxiety for the health of the index child, fear for recurrence in subsequent pregnancies and feelings of guilt. CONCLUSIONS Open maternal-fetal surgery for spina bifida did not appear to affect fertility in our cohort. Half of the attempts to conceive took place within 2 years. One uterine rupture and one placenta accreta occurred in 16 subsequent pregnancies. Most respondents reported psychological problems linked to the index pregnancy, which reinforces the need for long-term psychological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobe Haenen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Simen Vergote
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yada Kunpalin
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc De Catte
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roland Devlieger
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Lewi
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johannes van der Merwe
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Russo
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe De Vloo
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lore Lannoo
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Deprest
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University College London Institute for Women's Health, London, UK
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