Ectopia cordis in a first-trimester sonographic screening program for aneuploidy.

We review the sonographic features, antenatal course, and perinatal outcomes in 7 cases of ectopia cordis diagnosed in the first trimester. Four cases were associated with a large omphalocele (pentalogy of Cantrell) and 2 with a body stalk anomaly. The remaining fetus had isolated thoracic ectopia cordis.

Frontonasal fold thickness-to-nasal bone length ratio as a prenatal sonographic marker for trisomy 21 in a low-risk population.

Objectives: To report normative data for the fetal nasal bone length (NBL), frontonasal fold (FNF) thickness, and the FNF/NBL ratio and to study their performance in the sonographic screening of trisomy 21 in a normal, unselected Latin American population.

Methods: Women undergoing a routine sonographic examination between 16 and 32 weeks' gestation at a primary health care center in Santiago, Chile, were prospectively recruited for NBL and FNF thickness measurements. Pregnancies with maternal/fetal complications were subsequently excluded from analysis.

Prenatal sonography in hydranencephaly: findings during the early stages of disease.

The purpose of this report is to describe the prenatal sonographic findings in fetuses with hydranencephaly diagnosed during the early stages of disease. Four cases with characteristics of hydranencephaly were retrospectively identified from 2 Latin American fetal medicine referral centers. Information on maternal demographics, sonographic findings, antenatal courses, and pregnancy outcomes was retrieved from the ultrasound reports and medical records.

First-trimester sonographic findings in trisomy 18: a review of 53 cases.

Objective: To report our experience with first-trimester sonographic findings in pregnancies complicated by trisomy 18.

Methods: Proven cases of trisomy 18 undergoing sonographic examination between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation were retrospectively identified. Information on maternal demographics, prenatal sonographic findings, and chromosomal analysis results was obtained by reviewing the ultrasound reports and medical records.

Megacystis associated with an umbilical cord cyst: a sonographic feature of a patent urachus in the first trimester.

Objective: The purpose of this series was to report the first-trimester sonographic findings, antenatal course, and outcome in fetuses with a patent urachus.

Methods: We conducted a review of ultrasound reports and medical charts from 3 pregnancies complicated by a congenital patent urachus detected in the first trimester.

Results: All 3 fetuses had megacystis and an umbilical cord cyst close to the fetal abdominal insertion that was detected in the first trimester.

Endoscopic laser coagulation of feeding vessels in large placental chorioangiomas: report of three cases and review of invasive treatment options.

Objective: To report three cases of large placental chorioangiomas managed with endoscopic laser coagulation of the feeding vessels, and review the literature regarding cases of chorioangioma treated with invasive techniques.

Methods: Intrauterine endoscopic surgery was performed using a 2.5-mm fetoscope under epidural anesthesia.

Endoscopic laser surgery in severe second-trimester twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a three-year experience from a Latin American center.

Objective: In order to assess the outcome of pregnancies complicated by severe second trimester twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) undergoing treatment with endoscopic laser surgery, we reviewed our experience following the implementation of an institutional fetal surgery program.

Methods: Patients presenting with monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by severe TTTS before 26 weeks of gestation were offered endoscopic laser surgery to coagulate placental vascular anastomoses. Using regional anesthesia and guided by real-time sonography, anastomoses were identified and selectively coagulated.

First-trimester ultrasonographic screening for trisomy 21 using fetal nuchal translucency and nasal bone.

Objective: To report our experience with first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 by using the combination of nuchal translucency thickness and nasal bone assessment.

Methods: Pregnant women from a predominantly Latin American population consisting of patients at both low risk and high risk for chromosomal defects underwent first-trimester ultrasonographic screening. Nuchal translucency thickness and nasal bone were assessed by two accredited fetal medicine specialists.

Discordant lower urinary tract obstruction in early twin gestations: management and outcome.

Objective: To report our experience with the management of twin pregnancies discordant for lower urinary tract obstruction.

Methods: Cases of twin pregnancies discordant for lower urinary tract obstruction were identified from our fetal medicine database. Information on ultrasonographic findings, antenatal course, pregnancy complications, and perinatal outcome was obtained by reviewing medical records or contacting the referring obstetricians.

First-trimester sonographic diagnosis of holoprosencephaly: value of the "butterfly" sign.

Objective: To study the value of choroid plexus dysmorphology as a screening tool for the first-trimester sonographic diagnosis of holoprosencephaly in a high-risk population.

Methods: A total of 378 consecutive pregnancies undergoing chorionic villus sampling between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation were scanned before the procedure, following the recommendations of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (London, England). A cross-sectional view of the fetal brain, including the visualization of both choroid plexuses (the "butterfly" sign), was obtained in all cases.