Use of intrauterine shunts in fetal surgery

Abstract

Since the 1960s, fetal medicine has evolved rapidly. Thanks to advances in technology
and the training of experts in this branch of medicine, it has become possible to
make more accurate diagnoses of fetal pathologies. Most of these pathologies can be
treated postnatally. However, in some cases prenatal intervention is required since
otherwise the pregnancy may culminate in fetal death or serious sequelae in the
newborn. Intrathoracic pathologies with mediastinal compression, aortic stenosis,
lower urinary obstruction, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, myelomeningocele,
lower urinary obstruction, intrauterine intravascular transfusion, fetus-fetal
transfusion syndrome and TRAP sequence, among others, are the fetal pathologies
susceptible to in-utero therapy. The present article refers to the use of intrauterine
shunts in fetal surgery.