title: [The current status of prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele--results of a questionnaire].
abstract: Questionnaires were sent to 1000 parents of children with myelomeningocele in order to get a better knowledge of the present state of prenatal diagnosis of this disease. 566 parents answered; 488 responders, in whom the pregnancy took place 1982 and later, were evaluated in detail. 85% of the parents reported having been checked by ultrasound 2 times and more during pregnancy: however, only 27% of the myelomeningoceles were detected before delivery. 83% were diagnosed between the 30th and 40th week of pregnancy. The rate of discovery rose from 0% and 37% between 1982 and 1990. As a consequence of this result, one should make every effort by using ultrasound and alpha-foetoprotein-screening to verify or to exclude a myelomeningocele in an early phase of pregnancy. The delivery should take place in a specialised centre, and the knowledge of life expectancy and life quality of these patients should be improved, for the obstetricians as well as for the parents.
authors: Abteilung für Orthopädie im Kindesalter, Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Carstens
authors: F U
authors: FU
authors: Niethard
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
vernacular_title: Der gegenwärtige Stand der pränatalen Diagnostik einer Myelomeningozele--Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenaktion.