Maternal and perinatal outcomes of minimally invasive fetal surgeries: experience from two reference centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Authors

Keywords:

Fetus, Surgical procedures, Operative, Perinatal mortality, Maternal-child health centers, Fetal surgery, Perinatal outcomes, Maternal outcomes, Reference centers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Concerns regarding high open surgery-related maternal morbidity have led to improvements in minimally invasive fetal surgeries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the perinatal and maternal outcomes of minimally invasive fetal surgery performed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study conducted in two tertiary reference centers. METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted using medical records from 2011 to 2019. The outcomes included maternal and pregnancy complications, neonatal morbidity, and mortality from the intrauterine period to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Fifty mothers and 70 fetuses were included in this study. The pathologies included twin-twin transfusion syndrome, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, myelomeningocele, lower urinary tract obstruction, pleural effusion, congenital upper airway obstruction syndrome, and amniotic band syndrome. Regarding maternal complications, 8% had anesthetic complications, 12% had infectious complications, and 6% required blood transfusions. The mean gestational age at surgery was 25 weeks, the mean gestational age at delivery was 33 weeks, 83% of fetuses undergoing surgery were born alive, and 69% were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Despite the small sample size, we demonstrated that minimally invasive fetal surgeries are safe for pregnant women. Perinatal mortality and prematurity rates in this study were comparable to those previously. Prematurity remains the most significant problem associated with fetal surgery.

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Author Biographies

Luísa Moreira de Ávila, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

MD. Post-graduate Student. Department of Fetal Medicine, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.

Paulo Roberto Nassar de Carvalho, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PhD. Professor, Strictu Sensu Post-graduation, Department of Fetal Medicine, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.

Renato Augusto Moreira de Sá, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PhD. Research in Public Health. Department of Fetal Medicine, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.

Saint Clair Gomes Junior, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PhD. Research in Public Health. Department of Fetal Medicine, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.

Edward Araujo Júnior, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

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2025-04-23

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1.
Ávila LM de, Carvalho PRN de, Sá RAM de, Gomes Junior SC, Araujo Júnior E. Maternal and perinatal outcomes of minimally invasive fetal surgeries: experience from two reference centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 23 [cited 2025 Oct. 15];142(5):1-8. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/3110

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