Neurodevelopmental Outcomes after Fetoscopic Myelomeningocele Repair.

Abstract

To report the neurodevelopmental outcomes after a fetoscopic myelomeningocele repair and to compare them with children who had an open hysterotomy repair or a postnatal repair. We included 132 infants (prenatal repair, 93 [69 fetoscopic and 24 open hysterotomy]; postnatal repair, 39). Neurodevelopmental outcomes at or beyond 18 months were evaluated by a developmental pediatrician using the Capute scales (Clinical Adaptive Test [CAT]/Clinical Linguistic & Auditory Milestone Scale [CLAMS]) and/or during parental interview using Developmental Profile 3 test. Scores were examined against reference values at each gestational age. A normal score was defined as ≥70%. Neurodevelopmental scores were compared while adjusting for infants' age at the time of testing and the need for hydrocephalus treatment. After a fetoscopic repair, normal CLAMS results were observed in 25 of 33 cases (75.8%) and normal CAT in 23 of 33 (69.7%); the Developmental Profile 3 showed normal social-emotional scores in 60 of 65 (92.3%), normal cognition in 55 of 65 (84.6%), normal communication in 51 of 65 (78.5%), normal adaptive behavior in 48 of 65 (73.8%), normal general development in 39 of 65(60%), and normal physical score in 31 of 65 (47.7%) of the cases. Children who underwent a fetoscopic repair had similar neurodevelopmental outcomes compared with those who had an open fetal surgery repair. There was a significantly higher proportion of children with a normal CLAMS (25/33 [75.8%] vs 12/39 [30.8%], P < .01) and normal CAT (23/33 [69.7%] vs 16/39 [41.0%], P = .04) in the fetoscopic group compared with the postnatal repair group. Children who undergo laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic myelomeningocele repair present with normal neurodevelopmental outcomes in two-thirds of the cases included in this study at ≥ 18 months of age and had similar neurodevelopmental outcomes as those who had an open fetal surgery repair.