1. UOG Journal Club: August 2018
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
S. Carta, A. Kaelin Agten, C. Belcaro and A. Bhide
Volume 52, Issue 2, pages 165–173
Journal Club slides prepared by Dr Fiona Brownfoot
(UOG Editor for Trainees)

2. Introduction Aim of the study
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Introduction
Severe ventriculomegaly is usually defined as enlargement of the ventricular atria with a diameter of greater than 15 mm.
The literature on neurodevelopmental outcomes of severe ventriculomegaly remains quite sparse.
Aim of the study
To collate published data on survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes of prenatally detected cases of apparently isolated severe ventriculomegaly. 2

3. Methods Study design Included studies Excluded studies Outcome
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies later than 1990.
Included studies
Severe ventriculomegaly was defined as an atrial measurement in the transventricular plane of ≥ 15 mm.
Ventriculomegaly was considered apparently isolated if the investigators were unable to detect other cranial/extracranial structural abnormality, chromosomal abnormality or fetal infection in the prenatal period.
Excluded studies
All non-isolated cases of ventriculomegaly.
Studies in which intrauterine treatment was performed.
Unilateral ventriculomegaly.
Outcome
Assessment of the presence and degree of disability, classified as none, mild or severe. No limitations or restrictions were placed on the diagnostic tools and/or duration of postnatal follow-up.

4. Results Included studies were of good quality overall.
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Results
Included studies were of good quality overall.
Follow-up varied from 1 month to 18 years.
Different neurodevelopmental assessment tools were used in each study.
*** The baseline characteristics table is now in the supp file which I don’t have access to.

5. Study selection and characteristics
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Results
Study selection and characteristics
Most studies reported on ventriculomegaly in general - only results of fetuses with severe ventriculomegaly (atrial diameter ≥15 mm) were included.  
Gestational age at ultrasound assessment varied from 15 weeks to term.
Karyotype was assumed to be normal if karyotyping was not performed before or after birth, provided that the phenotype after birth was normal.
Data on infection screening, details of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and postmortem investigation were collected when available.

6. Baseline characteristics
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Results
Baseline characteristics
110 fetuses with severe ventriculomegaly were included from the studies.
Of these, 95 (87.9%) survived and 15 (12.1%) were stillborn or had neonatal demise.
Additional anomalies were detected in nine (9.5%) cases postnatally only.

7. Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Results
No disability reported in 41/95 survivors % (95% CI, 27.5–57.6%).
Mild/moderate disability reported in 17/95 cases % (95% CI, 7.2–33.8%).
Severe disability reported in 37/95 cases % (95% CI, 30.0 – 50.0%).

8. Discussion Findings Study limitations
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Discussion
Findings
Survival without disability was seen in just over one-third of cases.
Once ventriculomegaly becomes severe, the outcome is unfavorable for the majority of cases.
Study limitations
Neurodevelopmental assessments differed between studies.
The duration of follow-up was variable and may impact on the reported degree of disability. Subtle abnormalities may not be uncovered until the child begins schooling.
Fetal MRI was not performed in every case. Many of the cases that did undergo MRI investigation were excluded from the analysis because of antenatal detection of associated abnormalities.
Chromosomal microarray also wasn’t performed in all cases. Some of the apparently isolated cases may no longer have been classified as isolated had they undergone chromosomal microarray analysis. 8

9. Discussion Conclusion Implications for practice
Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Discussion
Implications for practice
Patients can be counseled that there is a high degree of neurodevelopmental delay in fetuses with severe ventriculomegaly.
Around one-third of babies with severe ventriculomegaly will survive without disability.
Conclusion
After excluding cases of termination of pregnancy, approximately four out of five fetuses with an antenatal diagnosis of apparently isolated ventriculomegaly survive. There is a high chance of neurodevelopmental delay in this group. The overall probability of survival without disability is 41/110 (36.7% (95% CI, 23–52%).

10. Outcome of fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of isolated severe bilateral ventriculomegaly: systematic review and meta-analysis
Carta et al., UOG 2018
Discussion points
With greater access to MRI and chromosomal microarray today, perhaps this paper overestimates risks of neurodevelopmental delay with isolated severe ventriculomegaly.
A proportion of cases will have been terminated, thus modifying the natural history and reported incidence of neurodevelopmental delay. 10