Outcomes Data: Open Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele) Repair

First in Texas

Physicians affiliated with The Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital were the first in Texas to perform open fetal surgery for the repair of myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida, in May 2011. This procedure followed the published results from the seven-year multicenter clinical trial, the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS), in March 2011. Overall, The Fetal Center’s outcomes data is better than or mirrors those reported in the MOMS trial.

Below is an overview of The Fetal Center’s clinical outcomes data for the fetal surgical repair of spina bifida. The data is compared to the MOMS trial results, which included 183 surgically eligible randomized patients – 80 patients underwent postnatal surgical repair and 78 underwent fetal surgery for spina bifida repair.

We strive to be transparent and provide up-to-date information on our patient outcomes. Our hope is that the data below serves as a helpful resource when making informed decisions regarding care.

For more information or to speak with a clinician at The Fetal Center, call (832) 325-7288 or email thefetalcenter@memorialhermann.org.

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Overview

Since The Fetal Center’s opening in 2011, the program has grown significantly in a number of ways. As a national referral program, The Fetal Center currently receives patient referrals from 38 states and continues to serve as a leader in fetal diagnosis, fetal intervention and comprehensive fetal care for unborn babies with abnormalities. Click here to learn more.

The data below includes the number of fetal surgeries performed year-over-year (YOY) since The Fetal Center’s opening.

Number of Fetal Surgeries for Spina Bifida Repair YOY

(The Fetal Center) Date range: May 2011 – November 2021.

Since 2011, The Fetal Center has evaluated more than 315 patients for fetal spina bifida repair: 152 patients met criteria for fetal surgery and 111 patients elected to undergo open fetal surgical repair and 18 patients have elected to undergo fetoscopic surgical repair with a human umbilical cord as a meningeal patch. The data below is an overview of The Fetal Center’s clinical outcomes data for open fetal surgical repair from May 2011 – November 24, 2021.

Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida Repair – Summary

(The Fetal Center) Date range: May 2011 – November 24, 2021; N = 111 patients.
*Patients who underwent fetal intervention by our site and remained under our care locally.

Gestational Age at Delivery

Patients who undergo open fetal surgery for spina bifida repair are asked to remain in Houston for the first two weeks following surgery. In the majority of cases, they return to their homes and are then co-managed with their referring maternal-fetal medicine specialist with a scheduled C-section delivery at 37 weeks. Overall, 39% of our patients delivered past 37 weeks gestation as compared to 21% in the MOMS trial. At The Fetal Center, the mean gestational age at delivery is 35 weeks and the median is 36.3 weeks.

Gestational Age at Delivery

(The Fetal Center) Date range: May 2011 – November 24, 2021; N =111 patients.

Maternal Complications

The affiliated team makes significant efforts to eliminate or minimize any potential maternal complications related to fetal surgery. For most of the conditions considered below, The Fetal Center had a lower complication rate as compared to the MOMS trial.

Maternal Complications

(The Fetal Center) Date range: May 2011 – November 24, 2021; N = 105 patients.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Rate

The MOMS trial showed increasing benefits to the baby, including a reduction in the need for shunts. Overall, The Fetal Center’s cohort data closely mirrored the VP shunt rate of the MOMS trial.

(The Fetal Center) Date range: May 2011 – November 24, 2021; N = 111 patients.
*Patients who underwent fetal intervention by our site and remained under our care locally.

Published December 2021.