Pessary or cerclage (PC study) to prevent recurrent preterm birth: a non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a strong risk indicator for recurrent preterm birth (PTB). Cervical cerclage is an accepted intervention to prevent recurrent PTB in high risk patients. Cervical pessary might be a less invasive alternative.

Increased Pulmonary-Aortic Interspace in Fetal Right Aortic Arch: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Introduction: The prenatal detection rate of a right aortic arch (RAA) has increased with the implementation of the three-vessel view (3VV) to the second-trimester anomaly scan formed by the pulmonary artery (PA), aorta (Ao), and superior vena cava (SVC). We examined the value of measuring the distance between PA and Ao in the 3VV in cases with an RAA.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study in which fetuses with an isolated RAA were matched to 3 healthy controls.

Financial contribution as reason to opt out of non-invasive prenatal testing.

Objective: First trimester non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) provides pregnant women with a reliable, non-invasive method to screen for fetal aneuploidies. In the Netherlands, there is a nationwide prenatal screening program in which pregnant women and their partners are counseled about their options around 10 weeks of pregnancy. The first trimester and second trimester scan are fully reimbursed but the NIPT has an own financial contribution of €175 per participant, irrespective of type of insurance.

Factors related to fetal demise in cases with congenital heart defects.

Background: Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital anomaly. Despite the increasing survival of these children, there is still an increased incidence of fetal demise, frequently attributed to cardiac failure. Considering that abnormal placental development has been described in congenital heart disease, our hypothesis is that placental insufficiency may contribute to fetal death in congenital heart disease.

Short-term outcome after the prenatal diagnosis of right aortic arch.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of children that require surgery in the first year of life and thereafter in order to improve the counseling of parents with a fetus with a right aortic arch (RAA).

Methods: Fetuses diagnosed with isolated RAA, defined as the absence of intra- or extracardiac anomalies, between 2007 and 2021 were extracted from the prospective registry PRECOR.

Results: In total, 110 fetuses were included, 92 with a prenatal diagnosis of RAA and 18 with double aortic arch (DAA).

Prenatal detection of aortic coarctation in a well-organized screening setting: Are we there yet?

Objective: We aimed to assess current prenatal detection rate (DR) of aortic coarctation (CoA) and its impact on neonatal outcome in the Netherlands to evaluate the efficacy of the Dutch screening protocol in which the cardiac four-chamber view, outflow tracts and three-vessel view are compulsory.

Methods: All prenatally and postnatally diagnosed CoA cases between 2012 and 2021 were extracted from our PRECOR-registry. Annual DRs were calculated with a focus on the trend over time and attributing factors for detection.

Additional value of advanced ultrasonography in pregnancies with two inconclusive cell-free DNA draws.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the additional value of advanced fetal anatomical assessment by ultrasound in pregnancies with twice inconclusive noninvasive testing (NIPT) due to low fetal fraction (FF).

Methods: We performed a multicenter-retrospective study between 2017 and 2020 including 311 pregnancies with twice inconclusive NIPT due to low FF ≤ 1%. Women were offered invasive testing and advanced fetal anatomical assessment at ≤18 weeks' gestation.

Increased nuchal translucency before 11 weeks of gestation: Reason for referral?

Objectives: In this era of non-invasive-prenatal testing (NIPT), when dating scans are usually performed around 10 weeks of gestation, an increased NT before the official established timeframe (CRL between 45 and 84 mm) may be encountered. Information on management of these pregnancies is limited. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between an early increased NT and adverse pregnancy outcome.