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Partial amniotic carbon dioxide insufflation (PACI) during minimally invasive fetoscopic interventions on fetuses with spina bifida aperta

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Abstract

Background

Percutaneous partial amniotic carbon dioxide insufflation (PACI) is one of the most important means for improving visualization during minimally invasive fetoscopic surgery of fetal spina bifida. The purpose of the present study was to analyze maternal and fetal safety aspects of PACI in a recent patient cohort and to present management improvements.

Methods

PACI under general materno-fetal anesthesia was performed during 65 interventions for fetoscopic patch coverage of fetal spina bifida aperta between 21 + 0 and 29 + 1 weeks of gestation. Filtered carbon dioxide was insufflated into the amniotic cavity via three percutaneously introduced trocars. Maternal ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters during PACI as well as insufflation pressures, BMI, parity, and placental position were recorded and statistically analyzed in order to detect potential risk groups.

Results

Maternal respiration parameters during PACI showed a typical variation over time, which was similar in patients with BMI ≤ 25 or BMI > 25. The necessary insufflation pressures were significantly higher in nulliparae than multiparae. There was no statistically significant relationship between insufflation pressure and maternal BMI, or between the expired maternal carbon dioxide concentration (etCO2) and the placental position. PACI was safe for all mothers and fetuses. Postnatal demise in one neonate, one fetus, and two infants occurred unrelated to PACI and resulted from trisomy 13, infection, and severe Chiari II malformations, respectively.

Conclusion

PACI seems safe in order to improve visualization of intraamniotic contents during minimally invasive fetoscopic surgery. Nevertheless, continued assessments of its benefits and risks are important.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Center for Fetal Surgery & Minimally-Invasive Therapy (DZFT), University of Giessen, Klinikstr. 33, 35592, Giessen, Germany

    Miriam Ziemann, Anastasiia Khaleeva & Thomas Kohl

  2. Institute for Medical Biometry, Computer Science and Epidemiology (IMBIE), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Rolf Fimmers

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Operative Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Rainer Schürg

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

    Markus A. Weigand

Authors
  1. Miriam Ziemann
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  2. Rolf Fimmers
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  3. Anastasiia Khaleeva
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  4. Rainer Schürg
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  5. Markus A. Weigand
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  6. Thomas Kohl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Kohl.

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Disclosures

Mrs Ziemann and Khaleeva as well as Drs. Fimmers, Schürg, Weigand, and Kohl have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Ziemann, M., Fimmers, R., Khaleeva, A. et al. Partial amniotic carbon dioxide insufflation (PACI) during minimally invasive fetoscopic interventions on fetuses with spina bifida aperta. Surg Endosc 32, 3138–3148 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6029-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6029-z

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