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Objectives: To reach an international expert consensus on the diagnosis, prognosis and management of fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) by means of a Delphi procedure, and to use this to define a core outcome set (COS). Methods: A three‐round Delphi procedure was conducted among an international panel of experts in fetal LUTO. The panel was provided with a list of literature‐based parameters to consider for the diagnosis, prognosis, management and outcomes of LUTO. A parallel procedure was conducted with patient groups during the development of the COS. Results: A total of 168 experts were approached, of whom 99 completed the first round and 80/99 (80.8%) completed all three rounds of the study questionnaires. Consensus was reached that, in the first trimester, an objective measurement of longitudinal bladder diameter of ≥ 7 mm should be used to suspect LUTO. In the second trimester, imaging parameters suggestive of LUTO could include enlarged bladder, keyhole sign, bladder wall thickening, bilateral hydronephrosis, bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and male sex. There was 79% agreement that the current prognostic scoring systems in the literature should not be used clinically. However, experts agreed on the value of amniotic fluid volume (at < 24 weeks) to predict survival and that the value of fetal intervention is to improve the chance of neonatal survival. Experts endorsed sonographic parameters suggestive of renal dysplasia, at least one vesicocentesis, and renal biochemistry for prognosis and counseling, but these items did not reach a consensus for determining candidacy for fetal intervention. On the other hand, imaging parameters suggestive of LUTO, absence of life‐limiting structural or genetic anomalies, gestational age of ≥ 16 weeks and oligohydramnios (defined as deepest vertical pocket < 2 cm) should be used as candidacy criteria for fetal intervention based on expert consensus. If bladder refill was evaluated, it should be assessed subjectively. Vesicoamniotic shunt should be the first line of fetal intervention. In the presence of suspected fetal renal failure, serial amnioinfusion should be offered only as an experimental procedure under research protocols. A COS for future LUTO studies was agreed upon. Conclusion: International consensus on the diagnosis, prognosis and management of fetal LUTO, as well as the COS, should inform clinical care and research to optimize perinatal outcomes. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the shape of an initially nonspherical drop translating at low Reynolds number through a quiescent fluid is investigated experimentally. It is found that the drop reverts to a spherical shape when the degree of initial deformation is small enough. However, drops that are highly deformed initially are shown to deform continuously. Specifically, a prolate drop breaks up into multiple droplets as it rises, while an oblate drop deforms into a double-emulsion drop as it translates. The experimental results agree well with results obtained earlier from numerical simulations [Phys. Fluids A 1, 1309 (1989)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boundary-integral calculations are used to investigate the evolution of the shape of an initially nonspherical drop that translates at zero Reynolds through a quiescent, unbounded fluid. For finite capillary numbers, it is shown that the drop reverts to a sphere, provided the initial deformation is not too large. However, drops that are initially deformed to a greater extent are shown to deform continuously, forming an elongated shape with a tail when initially prolate, and a flattened shape with a cavity at the rear when initially oblate. The critical degree of deformation decreases as the capillary number increases and appears to be consistent with the results of Kojima et al. [Phys. Fluids 27, 19 (1984) ], who showed that the spherical drop is unstable to infinitesimal disturbances in the limit Ca = ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the surgical technical aspects associated with the development of urological fistulas after fetal antegrade cystoscopic laser fulguration of the posterior urethral valves ( PUV). Methods The perioperative data for all fetal cystoscopies performed between January 2004 and August 2013 at three institutions in the USA, France and Brazil were reviewed, with particular emphasis on surgical technical aspects of the procedure and the complications encountered. Results A total of 40 fetal cystoscopies were performed at the three institutions. Laser fulguration of the PUV was performed in 23 of these cases, with a survival rate of 60.9% (14/23) and normal renal function in 85.7% (12/14) of these infants. Urological fistulas were diagnosed postnatally in four (10%) newborns. The presence of fistulas was associated with a higher gestational age at diagnosis of PUV ( P < 0.01) and with the use of semi-curved rather than curved sheaths ( P < 0.01), the use of a diode laser ( P < 0.01) and the use of higher laser power and energy ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively), as well as with less operator experience ( P < 0.01) and with absence of fetal anesthesia/immobilization ( P = 0.02). Conclusion Urological fistulas are a severe complication of fetal cystoscopic laser fulguration of PUV and are associated with type, energy and power settings of the laser and instrumentation. The use of appropriate technique and proper training of the operator are necessary to perform this fetal intervention safely. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Congenital lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is a rare condition with high perinatal mortality and morbidity when associated with severe oligohydramnios or anhydramnios in the second trimester of pregnancy. Severe pulmonary hypoplasia and end-stage renal disease are the underlying causes of poor neonatal outcome in these cases. However, little is known about the subset of fetal LUTO that is associated with a normal volume of amniotic fluid at midgestation. The objective of the current study was to describe the natural history, underlying causes, survival and postnatal renal function outcomes in pregnancies with fetal LUTO and normal amniotic fluid volume during the second trimester of pregnancy.Methods: This was a retrospective study of all pregnancies with fetal LUTO and normal amniotic fluid volume in the second trimester that received prenatal and postnatal care at our quaternary care institution between 2013 and 2017. Data on demographic characteristics, fetal interventions, perinatal survival, need for neonatal respiratory support, postnatal renal function and need for dialysis at the age of 1 and 24 months were analyzed.Results: Of the 18 fetuses that met the study criteria, 17 (94.4%) survived the perinatal period. Eleven (61.1%) pregnancies developed oligohydramnios in the third trimester, six of which were eligible for and underwent fetal intervention with vesicoamniotic shunt placement, which was performed successfully in all six cases. Two (11.1%) neonates required respiratory support owing to pulmonary hypoplasia. At the age of 2 years, 14 children had follow-up information available, two (14.3%) of whom had normal renal function, eight (57.1%) had developed some degree of chronic kidney disease (Stage 1-4) and four (28.6%) had developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including two who had already manifested ESRD in the neonatal period.Conclusions: Most fetuses diagnosed prenatally with LUTO that is associated with a normal volume of amniotic fluid at midgestation will have a favorable outcome in terms of perinatal survival and few will need long-term respiratory support. However, these children are still at increased risk for chronic renal disease, ESRD and need for renal replacement therapy. Larger multicenter studies are needed to characterize the prenatal factors associated with postnatal renal function, and to investigate the role of fetal intervention in the group of fetuses that present with late-onset oligohydramnios and evidence of preserved fetal renal function. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present a single center experience of a standardized prenatal multidisciplinary management protocol for fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) and to propose a classification of fetal LUTO based on disease severity.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 25 consecutive fetal patients with prenatal diagnosis of primary LUTO. Fetal intervention was offered after evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. Analyses were conducted using Bayesian methodology to determine predictors of survival at 6 months postpartum. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% credibility intervals are reported.Results: Fifteen (60.0%) of the 25 patients referred for assessment survived to postnatal evaluation. Fetal vesicoamniotic shunt was placed in 14 (56.0%) patients with 12 survivors. Multivariable analysis suggested that fetal intervention (OR, 6.97 (0.88-70.16), Pr(OR > 1) = 96.7%), anhydramnios (OR, 0.12 (0.04-0.35), Pr(OR < 1) = 99.9%), favorable fetal urine analysis (OR, 3.98 (0.63-25.15), Pr(OR > 1) = 92.7%) and absence of renal cortical cysts (OR, 3.9 (0.66-24.2), Pr(OR > 1) = 93.3%) were predictors of survival.Conclusions: Fetal intervention and fetal renal function were independently associated with postnatal survival of fetuses with LUTO. A classification based on the severity of disease is proposed. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]