Fetal biometric and Doppler measurements following abdominal radical trachelectomy in the second trimester of the pregnancy

Abstract

Background

Our previous study demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of abdominal radical trachelectomy during pregnancy but did not focus on the fetus. This study aimed to clarify the influence of abdominal radical trachelectomy performed during pregnancy on the fetus.

Methods

Eight cervical cancer patients who underwent abdominal radical trachelectomy at our hospital between February 2013 and August 2020 were enrolled in this study. To assess the peri- and postoperative influence on the fetus, we performed fetal heart monitoring at 30-min intervals during abdominal radical trachelectomy and calculated the estimated fetal body weight and resistance indexes of the middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery from postsurgery until delivery.

Results

Four out of eight patients had preterm birth due to chorioamnionitis in one case and consideration of the recurrent risk of cervical cancer in three cases. Fetal heart monitoring during abdominal radical trachelectomy revealed deceleration just once in one case but no abnormal findings in the other cases. In all cases, the fetal growth after abdominal radical trachelectomy was normal until delivery. No abnormal Doppler findings were detected in the middle cerebral artery or umbilical artery.

Conclusion

Our findings clarified that abdominal radical trachelectomy performed for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer during pregnancy has no obvious influence on fetal growth. Next, it is necessary to evaluate the growth and development of children delivered from mothers who have undergone abdominal radical trachelectomy during pregnancy.