Affiliation
Anu Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College, Cork, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Ireland.Issue Date
2012-01-31T16:43:55ZMeSH
AdolescentAdult
Anencephaly/complications/*epidemiology/ultrasonography
Female
Fetal Death/etiology
Humans
Ireland/epidemiology
Pregnancy
Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Young Adult
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Prenat Diagn. 2010 Apr;30(4):357-60.Journal
Prenatal diagnosisDOI
10.1002/pd.2490PubMed ID
20198650Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Early elective termination of pregnancy is the most common outcome of a diagnosis of anencephaly in developed countries. Experience and expertise with management of ongoing pregnancies is limited. We aimed to investigate the natural history of these pregnancies from diagnosis to delivery and to determine timing of death. METHOD: A retrospective review of cases of anencephaly diagnosed between 2003 and 2009 in tertiary-referral university teaching hospitals in Cork. RESULTS: The majority of cases (25/26; 96%) were diagnosed prenatally at a median gestation of 21(+2) weeks (range 13(+4)-32(+4)). The median maternal age was 30 years (range 17-41) and 50% were primigravidae. Seven pregnancies were complicated by polyhydramnios and four deliveries were complicated by shoulder dystocia. The median gestation at delivery was 35 weeks (range 22(+5)-42(+6)); 69% of labours were induced at a median gestation of 34 weeks. Six women (6/26; 23%) had a pre-labour intrauterine fetal death and nine women (9/26; 35%) had an intrapartum fetal death. Median neonatal survival time was 55 min (range 10 min to 8 days). Six parents donated neonatal organs for transplantation. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful information for health professionals caring for patients with a diagnosis of anencephaly. The majority of these infants die prior to delivery but short-term survival is possible.Language
engISSN
1097-0223 (Electronic)0197-3851 (Linking)
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1002/pd.2490
Scopus Count
Collections
Related articles
- Dilemmas in the management of twins discordant for anencephaly diagnosed at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.
- Authors: Vandecruys H, Avgidou K, Surerus E, Flack N, Nicolaides KH
- Issue date: 2006 Oct
- Characteristics of fetuses evaluated due to suspected anencephaly: a population-based cohort study in southern Brazil.
- Authors: Pelizzari E, Valdez CM, Picetti Jdos S, Cunha AC, Dietrich C, Fell PR, Targa LV, Zen PR, Rosa RF
- Issue date: 2015 Mar-Apr
- Spontaneous pregnancy outcome after prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly.
- Authors: Jaquier M, Klein A, Boltshauser E
- Issue date: 2006 Aug
- Cesarean section on request at 39 weeks: impact on shoulder dystocia, fetal trauma, neonatal encephalopathy, and intrauterine fetal demise.
- Authors: Hankins GD, Clark SM, Munn MB
- Issue date: 2006 Oct
- Anencephaly: changes in prenatal detection and birth status, 1972 through 1990.
- Authors: Limb CJ, Holmes LB
- Issue date: 1994 May