Fetal Cardiac Interventions—Are They Safe for the Mothers?

Abstract

The aim of fetal cardiac interventions (FCI), as other prenatal therapeutic procedures, is to bring benefit to the fetus. However, the safety of the mother is of utmost importance. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of FCI on maternal condition, course of pregnancy, and delivery. 113 mothers underwent intrauterine treatment of their fetuses with critical heart defects. 128 percutaneous ultrasound-guided FCI were performed and analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to the type of FCI: balloon aortic valvuloplasty (fBAV), balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (fBPV), interatrial stent placement (IAS), and balloon atrioseptoplasty (BAS). Various factors: maternal parameters, perioperative data, and pregnancy complications, were analyzed. There was only one major complication—procedure-related placental abruption (without need for blood products transfusion). There were no cases of: procedure-related preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM), chorioamnionitis, wound infection, and anesthesia associated complications. Tocolysis was only necessary only in two cases, and it was effective in both. None of the patients required intensive care unit intensive care unit admission. The procedure was effective in treating polyhydramnios associated with fetal heart failure in six out of nine cases. Deliveries occurred at term in 89%, 54% were vaginal. The results showed that FCI had a negligible impact on a further course of pregnancy and delivery.

Understanding Acquired Brain Injury: A Review

“…During a period of heightened development, trauma (such as fetal stroke in the womb or damage to the mother) will result in more structural issues than when progression has slowed or has ended. Intricate stent delivery or hypoxia may result in birth failure [ 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ].…”

Advances in the Prenatal Management of Fetal Cardiac Disease

“…No mothers required intensive care and only two required tocolysis. Importantly, 89% of deliveries were at term [ 47 ]. As individual centers further develop their experience and expertise, multicenter and international collaboration is imperative to share best practices and advance the field for the benefit of all.…”

“…The data presented in this study are openly available in reference number [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

Seasonality of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Single Ventricle Heart in Poland in the Context of Air Pollution

“…Anatomical SV forms in week 4 of embryogenesis and only one ventricle is formed in the heart at a time. Fetuses and newborns with this malformation have a better chance of survival [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. HLHS is usually formed in the 6th week of pregnancy or even later on.…”