Current Status and Prospects of Fetoscopic Surgery for Spina Bifida in Human Fetuses

Over the last 4 years, our center has established a protocol specially tailored to the needs of minimally invasive fetoscopic interventions that permits general maternofetal anesthesia for up to 8 h, if needed [4] . Employing the protocol, sufficient tocolysis and uterine relaxation has been achieved, and adequate uterine and fetoplacental blood flows can be maintained. A mild case of maternal pulmonary edema was seen in only 1 of more than 50 patients. With regard to fetal safety, neither fetal demise nor postnatal cerebral damage could be attributed to the anesthetic approach.