Assessment of the accuracy in prenatal diagnosis of congenital malformations. Analysis of 101 questionnaires filled in by parents of neonates hospitalized in the Department of Congenital Malformations Polish Mother's Memorial Research Institute

Abstract

Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis is an integral part of modern perinatal care. In the article results of questionnaires pertaining to the prenatal process of diagnosis are presented. Parents whose children were afflicted with congenital malformations of all types responded to enquiry Materials and methods: Between March 2014 and March 2015 150 of 355 infants were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care and Congenital Malformations in Łódź, and 150 had congenital malformations. Results: 101 parents of 150 children (67,3%) have given the feedback. Anomalies were such as: of the digestive system (37%), CHD (25%), OUN (14 %), genito-urinary (13%), skeletal system (9%) and respiratory system (2%). In 65 children of 101 the defects were detected prenatally. The obstetric US exam was the most frequently pointed out as performed (more than 1200). The biochemical markers and genetic tests in were performed in 34 pregnancies. The high percentage of ability to detect malformation was reported in the group of fetal echo examinations. Conclusions: 1. Prenatal ultrasound exams were the least effective method of making appropriate prenatal diagnosis of congenital malformation. 2. Fetal echocardiography had a high level of sensitivity and specificity in detecting congenital malformations. 3. Prenatal cardiologists proved to be the most effective in detecting congenital malformations 89,3 % of detected abnormalities. 4. Biochemical exams had a positive result in only one case of Down Syndrome.

Cases Report. Missed Diagnoses in Prenatal Evaluation by Ultrasound: A Retrospective Analysis of four Cases from a Tertiary Center for Fetal Malformations

“…Mistakes, unintended errors or misinterpretations might occur even for highly skilled and experienced specialists. Based on retrospective analysis of questionnaires, administered to parents whose neonates with congenital malformations had been treated at our hospital, fetal cardiologists proved to be the most effective in detecting congenital malformations (up to 89,3 %) 1,2 . In this report, we presented some of our mistaken diagnoses in hopes that lessons will be learned to reduce such occurrences and to improve our skills and protocols for the future.…”