[Maternal risks in pregnancies involving fetal surgery for TTTS and fetal malformations]

The improvements in fetal diagnosis or imaging, maternal-fetal anaesthesia, and instrumentation have resulted in a wider application of fetal surgery for complex fetal diseases of the fetal patient in order to prevent death and to improve the quality of life for long-term survivors. However, for all decisions the maternal risks have to be balanced and considered in the informed consent process. Sometimes symptoms of the fetal disease may overlap with risks of the procedures. Maternal symptoms may even improve after fetal surgery in some cases. Here we aim at illustrating the short- and long-term consequences of different procedures of fetal surgery in order to improve the indication and informed consent process with the parents. Interdisciplinary team approaches help to illustrate the fetal, neonatal and maternal consequences when discussing and indicating fetal surgery and hopefully facilitate a long-term support for the family.