Comparison of Prenatal and Postnatal Treatment of Myelomeningocele: A Systematic Review
Loading...
Authors
Gannon, Sydney
Date of Issue
2024
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Objective: To review relevant literature concerning the impact of prenatal repair of myelomeningocele on overall infant and maternal health, compared to postnatal repair of myelomeningocele.
Methods: Literature was gathered through PubMed and CINAHL and assessed for long- and short-term effects of prenatal and postnatal repair of myelomeningocele on infant and maternal health.
Results: Prenatal repair was associated with significant health and functionality improvements in later childhood compared to postnatal repair, but it was also correlated with increased pre-labor risks for both mother and child.
Conclusions: While unique, individual features such as lesion size have an impact on the suggested treatment of myelomeningocele, current research suggests that prenatal repair is associated with more positive long-term health than postnatal repair; however, this treatment comes with the risk of complications in the pre-labor stages. The interventions mentioned in this review should be further researched to provide additional treatment options.