Title
A Technical Look at Fetoscopic Laser Ablation for Fetal Laryngeal Surgical Recanalization in Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome
Date Issued
01 June 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Peiro J.L.
Nolan H.R.
Alhajjat A.
Diaz R.
Tabbah S.M.
Lim F.Y.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Publisher(s)
Mary Ann Liebert Inc.
Abstract
Background: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a rare condition characterized by complete obstruction of the upper fetal airways. Left untreated, it is uniformly fatal. Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) has been used to establish a surgical airway in affected fetuses during delivery. While this procedure benefits those fetuses that survive to delivery, high mortality in the prenatal period necessitates earlier innovative strategies. Herein, we report a novel technique for in utero intervention. Methods: A fetoscopic intervention was performed at 28 weeks on a 35-year-old G1P0 woman with fetal CHAOS from a laryngeal obstruction measuring 11 mm in length on prenatal imaging. Under ultrasound guidance, a 3.3-mm curved fetoscope was used to access the uterine cavity through a single subcentimeter maternal skin incision. The scope was driven through the fetal oral cavity and manipulated to attain a view of the vocal cords. A subglottic obstruction was observed. A 600-micron laser fiber was passed through the working channel of the scope and used to ablate the obstructed airway. Using the laser fiber and a guidewire, the ablated opening was traversed with the fetoscope to the level of the carina. Results: Postoperatively, the lungs became less hyperinflated. There was improvement in ascites and diaphragmatic eversion. At 31 1/7 weeks' gestation, the mother experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes with active labor and the fetus was delivered through EXIT to tracheostomy. The infant was managed on mechanical ventilation and is currently thriving at home with a tracheostomy at 2 years of age. Conclusion: Fetoscopy with laser ablation of the airway obstruction is an effective prenatal management strategy that offers the potential to alter the devastating natural course of CHAOS.
Start page
695
End page
700
Volume
30
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Otros temas de medicina clĂ­nica AnatomĂ­a, MorfologĂ­a
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85086052221
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques
ISSN of the container
10926429
Sources of information: Directorio de ProducciĂ³n CientĂ­fica Scopus