Patch vs. No Patch Fetoscopic Meningomyelocele Repair Study

Spina bifida can be a devastating neurological congenital anomaly. It results from incomplete closure of the neural tube between 22 and 28 embryological days. Its incidence is approximately 1-2 per 1,000 births. It is considered the most common congenital anomaly of the central nervous system compatible with life.

1. The most frequent form is myelomeningocele (MMC), characterized by the extrusion of the spinal cord into a sac filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and is associated with lower limb paralysis and bowel and bladder dysfunction.
2. The majority of MMCs can be diagnosed between 14 and 20 weeks of gestation. MMC is associated with Chiari II malformation, which includes a constellation of anomalies such as hindbrain herniation, brainstem abnormalities, low-lying venous sinuses and a small posterior fossa.The Chiari II malformation can have deleterious effects on motor, cranial nerve and cognitive functions. Postnatally most MMC patients develop hydrocephalus and require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Shunts require lifelong monitoring and have a high failure rate due to infection, obstruction, and fracture.

Experimental studies using animal models have shown that prenatal coverage of a spina bifida-like lesion can preserve neurological function and reduce or reverse hindbrain herniation.These studies suggest a "two-hit" hypothesis in which the ultimate neurologic deficit results from a combination of the failure of normal neural-tube closure (first hit) with secondary spinal cord injury resulting from prolonged exposure of sensitive neural elements to the amniotic fluid (second hit mechanism).

Based on this hypothesis, open fetal surgical repair of MMC was proposed, and the 2011 publication of the NICHD sponsored randomized controlled trial demonstrated clear neonatal benefit of open in-utero fetal surgical repair of MMC. The study showed a reduction in the incidence of hydrocephalus and in the radiographic severity of hindbrain herniation (relative risk: 0.67; 95% confidence interval: 0.56-0.81).

Open in-utero fetal surgery is not without risk and the NICHD study (MOMS Trial) showed an elevation in maternal-fetal morbidity/risk when compared to the postnatally treated group, including higher risk for chorioamniotic separation (26% vs. 0%, respectively), maternal pulmonary edema (6% vs. 0%), oligohydramnios (21% vs. 0%), placental abruption (6% vs. 0%), spontaneous membrane rupture (46%; RR: 6.15; 95% CI: 2.75-13.78), spontaneous labor (38%; RR: 2.80, 95%CI: 1.51-5.18), maternal blood transfusion (9%; RR: 7.18; 95%CI: 0.90-57.01), and preterm delivery before 34 weeks (46%; RR: 9.2; 95%CI: 3.81-22.19). The reason for the increased incidence of these complications is related to the nature of the open fetal procedure, which involves a multi-faceted invasive approach including maternal laparotomy, large hysterotomy with uterine edge stapling, and open fetal repair of the spina bifida defect that may involve manipulation and exposure of the fetus for a significant amount of time.

Fetal endoscopic surgery has progressed rapidly over the past decades and investigators are now able to perform a number of intricate procedures inside the uterus with specially designed instruments. These procedures include laser therapy for Twin-twin-transfusion syndrome, fetal cystoscopy and fulguration of posterior urethral valves, release of amniotic bands, and placement of various shunts and balloons inside fetal structures and cavities (peritoneal, pleural, cardiac, and trachea).

Fetoscopy offers a less invasive therapeutic option that could reduce a number of the morbidities (both maternal and fetal) related to open fetal procedures.

A few animal studies and growing clinical human experience with fetoscopic repair of MMC have demonstrated the feasibility of covering the defect and performing a full repair. These repairs have been accomplished using at least two (and sometimes more) entry ports through the uterine wall. Kohl et al. in Germany, have demonstrated the feasibility of performing a complete percutaneous fetoscopic repair of MMC using carbon dioxide to distend the uterus and provide a dry working area for the surgeon to perform the repair.

These investigators described a two-layer covering technique using an absorbable patch (Durasis, Cook, Germany) and sutures. However, while they showed that the procedure is feasible, their percutaneous technique with complete two layer surgical closure of the defect using sutures was associated with prolonged operative time and significant maternal and obstetrical morbidities.

Fetoscopy in a CO2 gas filled uterus has been recently reported by groups in Bonn, Germany (Kohl et al) and Sao Paulo, Brazil (Pedreira et al). The fetoscopic technique the investigators use has been developed and tested in a fetal sheep model of MMC by the investigators group and others (Peiro et al).

This fetoscopy technique has evolved over time to a 2-port technique developed by the team in Houston, Texas and its feasibility and applicability to the human uterus and fetus have been demonstrated and published (Belfort et al, 2017) and demonstrate an improved degree of flexibility in terms of access to the fetus regardless of placental location. The technique is designed to decrease the maternal risks of open uterus fetal surgery while maintaining a similar level of fetal benefit as seen in the MOMS trial.

The investigators technique employs an open abdomen/exteriorized (but closed) uterus methodology that allows the minimally invasive multi-layer closure of the fetal neural tube using the same closed skin repair currently employed at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Fetal Center using the open uterus approach. The technique employs a novel approach to low pressure uterine distention using the same carbon dioxide gas (8-12 mmHg pressure) that others attempting fetoscopic repair have used, but employing a much lower gas flow rate. In addition, the exteriorized uterus technique used by the Baylor investigators (as compared with the percutaneous method) allows improved access to the fetus in cases of anterior placentation, ability to manipulate and maintain the fetus in the required position, and optimal port placement resulting from the exteriorized maternal uterus.

In addition, because of the exteriorized uterus and the optimal placement this allows, only two access ports are needed and these can be sutured into the uterus allowing a closed seal and minimizing gas leakage. The use of humidified, warmed CO2, pioneered by the Baylor group, in fetal surgery, decreases membrane disruption and may prolong gestation without rupture of the membranes. Finally, recent advances in miniature surgical instruments (Storz 1.5 - 3mm surgical sets) allow unprecedented flexibility which enables a full surgical repair to be performed via a fetoscopic approach.

In preparation for the human trial the Barcelona group of Peiro et al tested their patch and sealant technique in a sheep model using single or double port access. Fetoscopic neural tube closure using a 12 F cannula, and when needed a second 9F cannula, a cover patch, and a medical sealant . They had similar results to that seen with open fetal surgical repair in the same sheep model.26 When they progressed to human trials this success in closing the lesion was not seen and they abandoned this approach

The team at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Fetal Center have now completed 53 cases using a 2 port exteriorized technique with results that support the initial hypothesis (Belfort et al , 2017). As with any technique there have been advances in instrumentation and technique and a multilayer closure (with or without a patch) has now been developed. The current study is designed to investigate the multilayer closure technique using a Durepair patch and to compare results to those achieved with the single layer closure.

We have recently added a percutaneous approach option for those patients with an anterior uterine window (i.e. an area of the uterine surface under the maternal anterior abdominal wall that is completely free of placenta (i.e. there is a posterior placenta or placenta that is located laterally and posterior such that the anterior uterine wall is free of placental tissue). The rationale for this is that in some selected cases, it will be possible to access the uterine surface in such a way that exactly the same port placement, membrane plication sutures and surgical repair as we currently perform, can be done through two smaller openings than the currently utilized large lower abdominal laparotomy that we use. The benefits of this proposed percutaneous approach are: Maternal - it will avoid the larger incision and reduce potential blood loss and infection risk from a long incision, reduce hospital length of stay, decrease maternal recovery and pain, and possibly give a better cosmetic outcome by avoiding a large scar. The fetal benefits will potentially include decreased heat loss from an open abdomen and thus reduced fetal hypothermia, decreased uterine artery manipulation and thus reduced risk of ischemia during the procedure, and a shortened surgery because of a much smaller length of abdominal opening to be closed.

In this protocol, All women who have an appropriate window and choose fetoscopic surgery will be offered (along with the standard open hysterotomy approach) the two fetoscopic options, (i) laparotomy assisted and, (ii) totally percutaneous expandable port assisted. In this new aspect of our protocol, the repair of the open neural tube defect will continue to follow the same principles used in open repairs currently being done at this institution and at others around the world. This involves release of the placode, dissection of the surrounding skin, development of myofascial flaps on either side of the defect, suture of the flaps over the freed placode, and attempted primary closure of the defect using available skin. The additional step in this protocol will add introduction of the Durepair patch to be laid on top of the placode prior to closure of the myofascial flaps. If necessary we will use relaxing incisions to provide additional mobility to the skin to be closed over the defect - an accepted technique routinely used in open procedures at our institution. In those cases, where we are able to complete the procedure with full skin closure of the defect, the only difference between the open uterus procedure, the laparotomy assisted fetoscopic procedure, and the totally percutaneous expandable port assisted procedure will be the approach inside the uterus. In the event of expandable port assisted repair being deemed too difficult or too risky, we will revert to laparotomy assisted fetoscopic repair, or to open repair (as has always been our alternative for any abandoned fetoscopic case).

Approximately 6 weeks after the surgery a post-procedure fetal MRI will be performed. If there is evidence of good closure of the neural tube defect and reversal of the Chiari II malformation, a vaginal delivery can be attempted based on obstetric criteria. Patients will be followed in person every 3-4 months after birth to 12 months at the Spina Bifida Clinic at TCH. Remaining visits will be yearly up to 5 years. If this is not possible, questionnaire(s) will be performed over the phone with the child's parents and records will be requested from the treating neurosurgeon on this same schedule.