Introduction The fetal-maternal interface in pregnancy does not act as a barrier to the passage of fetal cells into the maternal circulation, and the passage of fetal deoxyribonucleic acid into the maternal compartment is one proposed mechanism for preventing immunologic…
Introduction Nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) was first explained by Potter, who described fetal hydrops in the nonanemic fetuses of Rh-positive women. With the advent of anti-D immunoglobulin and the decreased incidence of immune-mediated hydrops, NIHF now comprises 90% of all…
Background Dysregulation of the lymphatic system is a key factor in a variety of disorders, and may be associated with aneuploidy (especially monosomy X), autosomal, or X-linked genetic disorders, and/or multiple other conditions. Lymphatic disorders can be classified as primary…
Introduction Oligohydramnios, a reduced amount of amniotic fluid, is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Its presence should prompt fetal and maternal evaluation. Disease Definition The definition of oligohydramnios varies. It may be described subjectively, but accuracy is dependent…
Introduction Polyhydramnios (also called hydramnios ) is defined as an excessive amount of amniotic fluid. Although idiopathic in more than 50% of cases, it may be associated with maternal and fetal disorders. Polyhydramnios should prompt a detailed fetal anatomic ultrasound…
Introduction Development of fetal surgery would not have been possible without advances in prenatal imaging, understanding the natural history of diseases, experimental animal models, and above all, the vision, innovation, and discipline of a dedicated group of surgeons, maternal-fetal medicine…
Introduction Multiple gestations are at risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality that increase with higher-order pregnancies, primarily caused by complications of prematurity. The risk of preterm delivery increases as the number of fetuses increases. In 2014, preterm delivery <32 weeks…
Introduction Intrauterine fetal shunts provide continuous drainage of fluid accumulations that are associated with a high risk of death or profound morbidity without decompression. The shunts are flexible plastic catheters that are percutaneously guided to a fetal location in utero…
Introduction Monochorionic twin gestations are at increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality related to a shared placental circulation. They are uniquely susceptible to the development of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), with an incidence of approximately 10% to 15%. TTTS…
Introduction The use of radiofrequency energy to create focal thermal tissue injury was first studied in the liver in the early 1990s. In 1996 the first radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure was performed on a patient with a liver tumor at…