Fetal myelomeningocele repair: urologic aspects.
OBJECTIVE
The notion that earlier surgical correction of congenital anomalies will lead to improved outcomes permeates throughout surgical literature. This review critically assesses some of the urologic evaluations in patients who have undergone fetal repair of their myelomeningoceles.


RESULTS
Thus far, there are limited data to determine the effects of such a repair with respect to urologic outcome. Early data, though, have suggested that improvements are being noted in a cohort of patients who have undergone fetal repair of their myelomeningocele with respect to neurodevelopmental outcome and lower extremity neuromotor function.


CONCLUSIONS
What remains to be seen is whether fetal surgery and the noted changes translate into long-term improvement. The efforts being put forth to critically assess the outcomes of such surgery are laudable and yet the end analysis may still leave the question unanswered.
Carr
Michael C
MC
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. carr@e-mail.chop.edu
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005332:Fetoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014563:Urodynamics