Intrauterine Therapy

Ingo Gottschalk; Eva Christin Weber; Ivonne Bedei; Roland Axt-Fliedner; Brigitte Strizek; Christoph Berg

doi:10.1055/a-2524-5787

Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, Table of Contents

Ultraschall Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2524-5787

Continuing Medical Education

Intrauterine Therapy

Article in several languages: English | deutsch

Ingo Gottschalk

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany

,

Eva Christin Weber

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany

,

Ivonne Bedei

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospitals Gießen and Marburg, Campus Gießen, Germany

,

Roland Axt-Fliedner

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospitals Gießen and Marburg, Campus Gießen, Germany

,

Brigitte Strizek

³Department for Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

,

Christoph Berg

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Since the first intrauterine interventions were carried out in the 1970 s under what today would be considered basic conditions, the range of prenatal interventions has steadily expanded, as has the frequency with which these interventions are carried out at specialized centers. Although most of these procedures are minimally invasive, they are invariably associated with considerable risks for the fetus and, depending on the surgical method, also for the expectant mother. For this reason, most centers worldwide limit themselves to interventions for fetal diseases which, if untreated, have a fatal course or experience a significant deterioration in the postnatal prognosis during the course of intrauterine development. This is all the more significant as only a small proportion of prenatal interventions have been successfully investigated in controlled clinical trials. The only exceptions are laser therapy for feto-fetal transfusion syndrome, intrauterine closure of spina bifida, and tracheal occlusion for diaphragmatic hernia with severe pulmonary hypoplasia. This article is intended to provide an overview of the fetal conditions that are candidates for intrauterine therapy and of the evidence for the individual interventions.

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References

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