Special Interest Group (SIG)

Fetal Therapy

Co-Chairs: Anna L. David, PhD, FRCOG and Lynn L. Simpson, MD

SIG Roster (member sign-in required to view)


Anna David

Lynn Simpson

ISPD Members: Join this SIG. (You will be asked to sign in.)

Fetal Therapy Online Community for ISPD Members

The Fetal Therapy SIG supports and advances the art and science of all aspects of in utero treatment of fetal disease to the benefit of our patients, both the fetus and the pregnant woman. It aims to provide a forum for all professionals involved in the field of fetal diagnosis and treatment, with the aim to advance our knowledge and skills. In particular, the SIG promotes interaction, discussion and exchange of ideas and opinions between the various specialists from all countries and continents involved in both clinical and basic science aspects of fetal treatment, including social and ethical aspects. The SIG supports and promotes the highest possible standards of research, and acknowledges the importance of international multicenter collaboration particularly in this field, given the relative rarity of each fetal disorder or anomaly. The SIG aims to play a role in promoting quality control initiatives in the field of fetal surgery, including the support of providing open access (internet) treatment and outcome data, and the use of appropriate statistical analysis of performance and competence of fetal surgeons and their centers.

SIG Topics of Discussion/Interest

  • Open Surgery
  • Gene Therapy
  • Twin-Twin Transfusion
  • Fetoscopy

A Global View of Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida

The Fetal Therapy SIG aims to provide a central resource for health professionals and patients containing current information about the global availability of fetal surgery for Spina Bifida. This project was initiated with a 2017 questionnaire to a selection of fetal medicine and pediatric neurosurgery experts around the world who were known or thought to be providing this service. The responses to this survey are shown in our interactive map. We invite all units not included in this map to submit their details to the ISPD Fetal Therapy SIG for inclusion in this public resource.

Read about the creation of this map

Global Updates Articles

Improving the safety of fetal therapy trials and studies (2022.1)

Running a Spina Bifida Fetal Surgery Service Across Two Countries (2021.2)

Fetal Cardiac Intervention (2020.1)

 

Recommended Reading/Viewing

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (VES Webinar, 20 Dec 2021)

Multiple Pregnancy (VES Webinar, 13 Oct 2021)

Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO) (VES Webinar, 9 Sept 2021)

TOTAL Trial Results; A FETO Critics Perspective on the TOTAL Trials (ISPD conference presentations, June 2021)

Abdominal Wall Defects (VES Webinar, 5 May 2021)

Spina Bifida (VES Webinar, 7 Apr 2021)

Debate 1 - Fetuses with non-isolated fetal anomalies or genetic syndromes should be excluded from fetal therapy (VES Webinar, 21 Oct 2020)

Interview of Louise Wilkins-Haug conducted by Lynn Simpson, February 2019