[Fetal myelomeningocele and the potential in-utero repair: follow-up of 58 fetuses].
BACKGROUND
Prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele (MM) allows planning its management and, recently, a possible in utero repair.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the perinatal outcome of fetuses with MM, in a Fetal Medicine Unit, identifying possible candidates for the in utero surgical repair.


METHODS
Retrospective and descriptive study of 58 cases of prenatally diagnosed MM, at CAISM-UNICAMP, from January 1997 to December 2001, identifying possible fetal candidates for in utero repair.


RESULTS
the diagnosis mean gestational age was 29 weeks (17-39); level of lesions was above sacral region in 85%, association with hydrocephaly in 86%. Surgical complications were present in 39% of the neonates. During follow-up, 98% presented neurogenic bladder and 60% neurological/mental handicap. Twenty eight fetuses (42%) could have indication of in utero repair.


CONCLUSIONS
MM is associated with severe and frequent poor results. Almost one third of our cases could had fetal repair as a treatment choice.
Sbragia
Lourenço
L
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de CampinasCampinas, SP, Brasil. sbragia@fcm.unicamp.br
Machado
Isabela Nelly
IN
Rojas
Carlos Eduardo Braidos
CE
Zambelli
Helder
H
Miranda
Márcio Lopes
ML
Bianchi
Maria Otília
MO
Barini
Ricardo
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal