The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Pregnancy and Mother-infant Prenatal Bonding.

This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 stress and anxiety on prenatal attachment during the second trimester of gestation. Pregnancy is an important stage for mothers-to-be in creating representations of themselves as a "mother", with the developing attachment relationship to the unborn child considered as a milestone in the future parent's developmental trajectory. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national health measures installed can hence have consequences on these representations and on prenatal attachment.

Biplane mode for more precise intrauterine procedures.

The evolution of ultrasound and the introduction of 3- and 4-dimensional ultrasound techniques led to a shift in the perception and usage of ultrasound in fetal medicine. The biplane mode might help in multiple fetal procedures, including but not limited to basic intrauterine thoracocentesis, thoracoamniotic shunting, amnioreduction, amnioinfusion, cordocentesis, intraumbilical infusion, and umbilical cord coagulation, with a possible reduction in the complication rate. Despite its theoretical usefulness, more studies are required to assess the clinical importance of this technique.

Letter to the Editor in response to 'Parental attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnancies complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a cohort study'.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is a highly morbid condition that can affect parental attachment and depression risk. Studies addressing this rare condition are hard to conduct and thus lacking in the literature. In this letter to the editor, we acknowledge the article of Mackie et al.

Announcing fetal pathology: Challenges encountered by physicians and potential role of simulation in training for breaking bad news.

Background: Informing couples about the diagnosis of severe fetal pathologies is part of the daily routine in fetal medicine. This situation is usually complex and can put untrained professionals in an uncomfortable position. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of health care professionals when faced with the need to announce a fetal pathology in order to target their training gaps in this domain.

Obstetric Ultrasound Screening in a Rural Area of Lebanon One Small Step With a Promising Major Impact.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the conditions and to weigh the potential impact of an obstetrical ultrasound screening intervention on pregnant patients in an underserved area of Lebanon with the presence of refugees.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in a rural region in North Lebanon. Monthly second-trimester obstetrical ultrasound scans were offered to patients.

Quantitating skill acquisition with optical ultrasound simulation.

Objective: To investigate and compare the effect of simulator training on quantitative scores for ultrasound-related skills for trainees with novice level ultrasound experience and expert ultrasound operators.

Methods: Three novice (comprising of 11, 32, 23 participants) and one expert (10 participants) subgroups undertook an ultrasound simulation training session. Pre- and post-training test scores were collected for each subgroup.

Management of monochorionic twins discordant for structural fetal anomalies.

Objective: To review the perinatal management and outcomes of monochorionic twin pregnancies (MC) discordant for congenital anomalies (DCA).

Methods: Retrospective, study of all MC DCA cases referred to our tertiary referral center from 1997 to 2018. We excluded cases complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, twin anemia-polycythemia sequence, twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence or selective intra-uterine growth restriction.

Non-invasive assessment of placental perfusion in vivo using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI: A preclinical study in rats.

Introduction: Non-invasive assessment of placental perfusion is of great interest to characterize placental function in clinical practice. This article proposes a strictly non-invasive MRI technique using ASL to quantify placental blood flow in vivo. The aim of this study was to develop a fMRI tool to quantify placental blood flow (PBF) in rat, by using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI at 4.

Fetoscopic Release of Amniotic Bands Causing Limb Constriction: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

The aim of this study was to review the perioperative complication rates and neonatal outcomes after fetoscopic release of amniotic bands that caused bilateral limb constrictions. We present 5 cases of limb constriction by amniotic bands occurring spontaneously or following fetoscopic surgery and also include a review of 21 previously published cases. The cases were analyzed for indication, surgical technique, and postoperative follow-up.

Assessment of human placental perfusion by intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging.

Purpose: To provide functional information on the human placenta, including perfusion, and diffusion, with no contrast agent injection, and to study correlations between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) placental parameters and fetal growth.

Materials And Methods: MRI was performed in women undergoing legal termination of pregnancy at 17-34 weeks, including a 4-b-value and 11-b-value DW sequences. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), the restricted diffusion coefficient (D), the pseudoperfusion coefficient (D*), and the perfusion fraction (f) were calculated.

Prenatal incision of ureterocele causing bladder outlet obstruction: a multicenter case series.

We reviewed data from a cohort of fetuses with ureterocele diagnosed and operated prenatally in four fetal therapy centers. Inclusion criteria were (1) ureterocele confirmed on detailed fetal ultrasound examination, (2) absence of additional fetal malformations, and (3) fetal intervention to decompress the ureterocele with local institutional review boards' approval. Data on sonographic follow-up, obstetrical, neonatal outcome, and postnatal evaluation were collected.

Impact of Monochorionicity and Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome on Prenatal Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms.

Monochronioric (MC) twin pregnancies are considered as high-risk pregnancies with potential complications requiring in-utero interventions. We aimed to assess prenatal attachment, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in MC pregnancies complicated with Twin-To-Twin-transfusion syndrome (TTTS) in comparison to uncomplicated monochorionic (UMC) and dichorionic pregnancies (DC). Auto-questionnaires were filled out at diagnosis of TTTS and at successive milestones.

Evaluation of trainees' ability to perform obstetrical ultrasound using simulation: challenges and opportunities.

Background: Evaluation of trainee's ability in obstetrical ultrasound is a time-consuming process, which requires involving patients as volunteers. With the use of obstetrical ultrasound simulators, virtual reality could help in assessing competency and evaluating trainees in this field.

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the validity of an obstetrical ultrasound simulator as a tool for evaluating trainees following structured training by comparing scores obtained on obstetrical ultrasound simulator with those obtained on volunteers and by assessing correlations between scores of images and of dexterity given by 2 blinded examiners.

Functional imaging of the human placenta with magnetic resonance.

Abnormal placentation is responsible for most failures in pregnancy; however, an understanding of placental functions remains largely concealed from noninvasive, in vivo investigations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is safe in pregnancy for magnetic fields of up to 3 Tesla and is being used increasingly to improve the accuracy of prenatal imaging. Functional MRI (fMRI) of the placenta has not yet been validated in a clinical setting, and most data are derived from animal studies.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Virtual Reality Simulation Training for Transvaginal Gynecologic Ultrasound Skills.

Objectives: To compare the impact of virtual reality simulation training and theoretical teaching on the ability of inexperienced trainees to produce adequate virtual transvaginal ultrasound images.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with parallel groups. Participants included inexperienced residents starting a training program in Paris.

Formative assessment based on an audit and feedback improves nuchal translucency ultrasound image quality.

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to study the impact of an audit and feedback on the quality of routine first-trimester nuchal transparency ultrasound images.

Methods: Eighty-eight sonographers were each sent 2 different series of 30 consecutive nuchal translucency images at a mean interval of 3 months to a dedicated, protected server for remote double-blind independent analysis based on the new Collège Français d'Echographie Foetale/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique image-scoring method (https://www.cfef.

Fetoplacental oxygenation in an intrauterine growth restriction rat model by using blood oxygen level-dependent MR imaging at 4.7 T.

Purpose: To investigate blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in an intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) rat model as a noninvasive in vivo tool to evaluate the response of the fetoplacental units (FPUs) to oxygenation

Materials And Methods: All procedures were approved by the animal care committee. The study was performed between February and July 2010. The IUGR model based on the ligation of the left uterine vascular pedicle at embryonic day 17 of gestation was validated by weighing placentas and fetuses after MR imaging.

Measurement of placental perfusion by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI at 4.7 T.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) at 4.7 T for perfusion measurement and to evaluate the ability of this technique to distinguish between low and normal levels of placental perfusion in a controlled rat model.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the animal care committee.

Use of intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging to assess placental perfusion in a murine model of placental insufficiency.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging at 4.7 T to distinguish decreased placental perfusion from normal perfusion in a controlled murine model and to determine the effect of transient maternal hyperoxygenation on placental microvascularization.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by our animal care committee.

Outcomes of fetuses with small head circumference on second-trimester ultrasonography.

Objective: We examined the outcomes of pregnancies in which the fetal head circumference (HC) was below the 5(th) centile at the routine second-trimester scan.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed outcomes of 18,377 women according to HC Z scores at second-trimester ultrasound examination between 2001 and 2008. We collected all major malformations, intrauterine deaths and other abnormal outcomes.

First-trimester uterine scar assessment by transvaginal ultrasound.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the assessment of lower segment uterine scar (LSCS) by transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) during a first-trimester scan.

Study Design: Patients with a history of LSCS were prospectively enrolled over a 6 month period. Four groups were defined: type 1A, thin scar within cervicoisthmic canal (CIC); type 1B, thin above the internal os (IO); type 2A, dehiscent within the CIC; type 2B, dehiscent above the IO.