Authors
Theresa Reischer, Anja Catic, Charlotte Brennus, Christian Göbl, Gülen Yerlikaya-Schatten
Published in
BMC pregnancy and childbirth. Volume 25. Issue 1. Pages 508. Apr 26, 2025. Epub Apr 26, 2025.
Abstract
Provision and uptake of antenatal screening is nonuniform in Austria, as there is no national screening program. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of prenatal ultrasound screening methods on the time of diagnosis and therefore the rate of feticide in pregnancies with fetal malformations.
Retrospective data analysis of terminations of pregnancies (TOP) with and without feticide due to fetal structural anomalies at a single tertiary care referral center in Austria between 2007 and 2020.
Over the study period, the number of TOPs increased overall, and a nonsignificant rise in the rate of feticide was observed. Women who underwent TOP without feticide significantly more often had first trimester screening; in particular, 588 (86%) cases compared to 121 (57%) with feticide (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the subgroup of cases diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy (WoP), a significant association between cases without a mid-trimester anomaly scan and TOP with feticide was found. Gestational age at diagnosis was influenced by the type of malformation and therefore the affected organ system.
First trimester screening is critical in early fetal assessment and preventing unnecessary late terminations and feticide. Mid-trimester anomaly scan further increases the early detection of fetal malformations, especially those that become apparent later in pregnancy. Consequently, comprehensive counselling regarding the benefits of prenatal ultrasound screening should be provided to all pregnant women.
PMID:
40287630
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Apr 2025.
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