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Ultraschall Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2524-5787
Continuing Medical Education

Intrauterine Therapy

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Ingo Gottschalk
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
,
Eva Christin Weber
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
,
Ivonne Bedei
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospitals Gießen and Marburg, Campus Gießen, Germany
,
Roland Axt-Fliedner
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospitals Gießen and Marburg, Campus Gießen, Germany
,
Brigitte Strizek 
3   Department for Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
,
Christoph Berg
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, Gynecological Sonography and Fetal Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
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Abstract

Since the first intrauterine interventions were carried out in the 1970 s under what today would be considered basic conditions, the range of prenatal interventions has steadily expanded, as has the frequency with which these interventions are carried out at specialized centers. Although most of these procedures are minimally invasive, they are invariably associated with considerable risks for the fetus and, depending on the surgical method, also for the expectant mother. For this reason, most centers worldwide limit themselves to interventions for fetal diseases which, if untreated, have a fatal course or experience a significant deterioration in the postnatal prognosis during the course of intrauterine development. This is all the more significant as only a small proportion of prenatal interventions have been successfully investigated in controlled clinical trials. The only exceptions are laser therapy for feto-fetal transfusion syndrome, intrauterine closure of spina bifida, and tracheal occlusion for diaphragmatic hernia with severe pulmonary hypoplasia. This article is intended to provide an overview of the fetal conditions that are candidates for intrauterine therapy and of the evidence for the individual interventions.



Publication History

Received: 11 October 2024

Accepted after revision: 02 January 2025

Article published online:
14 March 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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