Complications Associated with Fetal Cardiac Interventions: Prevalence and Management - Experience from 213 Procedures

Fetal cardiac interventions (FCIs) were introduced to change the natural history of some congenital heart defects. The aim of this study was to analyze the complications and management strategies associated with FCI at our institution.

The local FCI database was retrospectively reviewed for all fetuses who underwent FCI in our center since 2000 regarding complications and fetal outcome.

213 FCIs have been performed in 165 fetuses since October 2000: 60 with fetal pulmonary valvuloplasty, 4 with atrial septostomy, 7 with atrial septal stents, and 142 with fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV). The median gestational age at intervention was 27+1/7 weeks (21+4/7-38+3/7) for all interventions. The most common complications needing treatment were bradycardia (37%) and pericardial effusions (12%). FAV procedure-related mortality was significantly lower in the recent period since 2014 (14% early vs. 4% recent era, p = 0.03) due to a learning curve and improved management strategies. There were no relevant maternal complications. Premature deliveries occurred in 22.8% percent of all patients.

Complications during FCI were frequent and must be expected. Strategies to reduce their prevalence as well as timely and correct treatment are mandatory to keep mortality rates low.