The Impact of Prenatal Diagnosis on Clinical Outcomes of Isolated Vascular Rings From a Statewide Paediatric Cardiology Tertiary Service

Diagnostic accuracy and short-term implications of prenatally diagnosed vascular rings: a single center study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic accuracy and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with a suspected vascular ring (VR).

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center retrospective study of patients with suspected VR by fetal echocardiography. Postnatal evaluation included echocardiography +/- cross-sectional imaging. Outcomes, including symptomatology and surgery, were recorded and compared between VR types.

RESULTS

Of 68 suspected fetal VRs, 81% were confirmed postnatally. Concordance between fetal and postnatal anatomy was 76%. Five neonates required resuscitation unrelated to VR. Symptoms presented in 13 patients (median 45 days), independent of VR type. Surgical intervention was performed in 15 patients (median 99 days); 80% were symptomatic. At a median follow-up of 6 months, 4 patients were symptomatic including 3 postoperative.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal echocardiography accurately identifies and characterizes VR anatomy in most instances. Specialized delivery planning in uncomplicated cases is unnecessary given absence of symptoms at birth. Fetal diagnosis may not indicate surgical disease, as symptoms do not occur in all and early surgery does not guarantee symptom resolution.

Postnatal Outcomes in Prenatally Detected Vascular Rings

Vascular rings are rare congenital defects that can cause tracheal and/or esophageal compression. Prenatal detection is increasing due to advances in screening and fetal echocardiography. Postnatal outcomes remain variable. We describe our single-center experience of postnatal outcomes in prenatally detected vascular rings and evaluate factors associated with surgery. We performed a retrospective review of all fetal diagnoses of possible vascular ring evaluated between 2016 and 2023. Patients with significant intracardiac abnormalities, without postnatal data, or without confirmed postnatal diagnosis were excluded from postnatal analysis. Outcome variables included symptoms, tracheal/esophageal compression, and surgical repair. The prenatal cohort included 109 patients with 80% right aortic arch (RAA) and 20% double aortic arch (DAA). Of 72 patients in the postnatal cohort, 85% underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) at median age of 2 months with 0.84 ± 0.34 mSv of radiation. On CTA, 69% had a diverticulum. Of those with RAA, 95% had an aberrant left subclavian. Most (79%) had airway abnormalities on CTA. Fifteen (21%) developed symptoms at median age of 5 months. Fifty-eight percent  of patients underwent surgery at median age of 10 months, of which 33% were due to symptoms. On univariate analysis, DAA was associated with airway abnormalities on CTA and surgical repair. At 30-month follow up, 99% of patients remained asymptomatic. Prenatal diagnosis of vascular rings is associated with high rates of airway abnormalities, even in those without symptoms. Surgical repair was pursued in asymptomatic patients with DAA and airway abnormalities in our institution. As DAA is associated with airway abnormalities, these patients may require closer monitoring for future symptom development.

Variations in the Evaluation and Management of Vascular Rings: A Survey of American Clinicians

Vascular rings are arterial malformations that lead to the compression of the trachea and/or esophagus. While "tight" rings often produce symptoms and require surgery, "loose" rings rarely produce symptoms. Given advances in fetal echocardiography, this diagnosis is now more often made prenatally. This poses a new conundrum in the management of asymptomatic patients, leading to practice variation and creating a target for clinical system improvement. Hence, we conducted this survey aiming to demonstrate the practice variation existing in current evaluation and management of these patients. An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to several listservs for pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons. Survey questions targeted respondent practice characteristics, testing obtained, and indications for testing or surgical referral. In total 61 responses were received, predominantly from pediatric cardiologists (95%) in the United States (97%). About 60% of clinicians reported frequently diagnosing patients with vascular rings by fetal echocardiogram, with only about 20% diagnosing them frequently on evaluation of symptoms. Computed tomography angiography and echocardiogram were the most common imaging modalities employed. Most clinicians obtained cross-sectional imaging at the time of diagnosis and referred to surgery once patients had at least occasional symptoms. Respondents demonstrated a low degree of agreement (Krippendorf's alpha 0.48). Few statistically significant patterns were identified between respondents based on their practice characteristics. This study identified significant variation between clinicians regarding the evaluation and management of vascular rings. Further research or expert opinions may help to standardize practice, saving costs and improving the quality of care for affected patients.

Prenatal cardiac findings and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Fetal detection and evaluation

Clinical features of 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) are highly variable between affected individuals and frequently include a subset of conotruncal and aortic arch anomalies. Many are diagnosed with 22q11.2DS when they present as a fetus, newborn or infant with characteristic cardiac findings and subsequently undergo genetic testing. The presence of an aortic arch anomaly with characteristic intracardiac anomalies increases the likelihood that the patient has 22q11.2 DS, but those with an aortic arch anomaly and normal intracardiac anatomy are also at risk. It is particularly important to identify the fetus at risk for 22q11.2DS in order to prepare the expectant parents and plan postnatal care for optimal outcomes. Fetal anatomy scans now readily identify aortic arch anomalies (aberrant right subclavian artery, right sided aortic arch or double aortic arch) in the three-vessel tracheal view. Given the association of 22q11.2DS with aortic arch anomalies with and without intracardiac defects, this review highlights the importance of recognizing the fetus at risk for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with an aortic arch anomaly and details current methods for genetic testing. To assist in the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.2DS, this review summarizes the seminal features of 22q11.2DS, its prenatal presentation and current methods for genetic testing.

A neonatal case of vascular ring with Alagille syndrome

A female infant, born at 37 week 5 days to a mother via induced vaginal delivery for preeclampsia, was prenatally diagnosed with a right aortic arch with vascular ring. On the third day of life, the infant exhibited a bronze-gray coloration, and a direct bilirubin of 1.7 mg/dL was detected. The abdominal ultrasound did not visualize the gallbladder. Clinically, the infant displayed features consistent with Alagille syndrome, including unusual facial appearance, butterfly vertebrae, cardiovascular defects, and cholestasis. The geneticist noted that the mother of the patient also exhibited similar features. Both the infant and the mother were diagnosed with Alagille syndrome, both having the same heterozygous JAG1 gene (NM_000214.2) variant (c.1890_1893del, p.Ile630Metfs*112). We believe that the vascular ring observed in our patient is the first reported instance of a vascular ring associated with Alagille syndrome.