Establishing a fetal therapy center: lessons learned
Lori J Howell1, N Scott Adzick
1The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Insights
Antenatal diagnosis and treatment of fetal anomalies are crucial. Specialized centers offer expertise for unborn patients, addressing a leading cause of perinatal mortality.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Congenital anomalies are a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, surpassing prematurity.
- Antenatal diagnosis and treatment are established but require specialized approaches for fetal anomalies.
- Fetal anomalies necessitate specialized assessment and potential prenatal intervention for affected unborn babies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the essential components of a specialized center for fetal diagnosis and treatment.
- To share lessons learned from establishing and operating a fetal diagnosis and treatment center.
- To highlight the importance of expert care for fetuses with anomalies and their families.
Main Methods:
- Review of established practices in antenatal diagnosis and treatment.
- Description of the structural and functional components of a specialized fetal center.
- Analysis of clinical experience and outcomes from a leading fetal medicine program.
Main Results:
- Specialized centers are vital for addressing the unique needs of fetuses with anomalies.
- Key components include focused expertise, extensive clinical experience, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Established centers provide comprehensive care from diagnosis through potential intervention.
Conclusions:
- Specialized centers are essential for optimal management of congenital anomalies in utero.
- Multidisciplinary expertise and experience are critical for successful fetal diagnosis and treatment.
- Early and expert intervention can improve outcomes for unborn babies with anomalies.
Abstract:
Antenatal diagnosis and treatment are well established. The unborn baby with an anomaly is a patient who requires assessment and potential prenatal intervention. Congenital anomalies now surpass prematurity as the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality but still are rare. The unique needs of abnormal fetuses and their families are best served in specialized centers with focused expertise and extensive clinical experience. This article details the essential components of a center for fetal diagnosis and treatment and describes some of the lessons learned based on our experience at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
