Genes, brains, and development: linking preschool developmental disorders to medical science and care

Experience with a multidisciplinary antenatal diagnosis and management model in fetal medicine

BACKGROUND

Fetal medicine is a new and evolving specialty. Complex fetal conditions may require the multidisciplinary input of clinicians from many different specialties.

METHODS

Referral of fetal patients was made to a multidisciplinary antenatal diagnosis and management (MADAM) board if more than one specialty (in addition to maternal-fetal medicine) needed to be intimately involved in the evaluation or care of the fetus; consultation would probably lead to alterations in fetal or perinatal management; or development or revision of management guidelines was anticipated. The case log of the MADAM conferences was reviewed retrospectively for number and type of fetal anomalies, and outcome of the presentation to the MADAM board.

RESULTS

During a 5-year period, 1% of 25654 pregnant women who were evaluated required consultations with individual pediatric and pediatric surgical specialists. Of these, 114 patients were referred to one of 77 MADAM conferences for consensus recommendation. Of these 77 discussions, 32 (42%) led to an alteration in prenatal management, 14 (18%) led to co-ordination of postnatal management and 12 (16%) led to the establishment of a new treatment guideline, or the modification of an existing one. In all, perinatal management was altered in 75% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The MADAM model functions as a forum for exchange of up-to-date scientific information, development of evidence-based treatment protocols and continuity of care through the pre-, peri- and postnatal periods.