A protocol for safe general maternofetal anesthesia during minimally invasive fetal surgery

Background The purpose of our prospective study was to develop an anesthetic protocol that would allow sufficient maternofetal anesthesia during minimally invasive fetal surgery while at the same time maintaining stable maternal hemodynamics, result in a low risk for maternal pulmonary edema, and be safe for the fetus. Patients & Methods We prospectively studied 53 consecutive minimally invasive fetal surgical procedures that were performed under general maternofetal anesthesia in 40 pregnant women between 19.3 and 35.3 weeks of gestation. Ten procedures were performed for fetal spina bifida aperta, ten for feta…