• Cristina L Wood, Jeannie Zuk, Mark D Rollins, Lori J Silveira, John R Feiner, Michael Zaretsky, and Debnath Chatterjee.
• Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
• Fetal. Diagn. Ther. 2021 Jan 1; 48 (5): 361-371.

IntroductionA wide range of fetal interventions are performed across fetal therapy centers (FTCs). We hypothesized that there is significant variability in anesthesia staffing and anesthetic techniques.MethodsWe conducted an online survey of anesthesiology directors at every FTC within the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet). The survey included details of fetal interventions performed in 2018, anesthesia staffing models, anesthetic techniques, fetal monitoring, and postoperative management.ResultsThere was a 92% response rate. Most FTCs are located within an adult hospital and employ a small team of anesthesiologists. There is heterogeneity when evaluating anesthesiology fellowship training and staffing, indicating there is a multidisciplinary specialty team-based approach even within anesthesiology. Minimally invasive fetal interventions were the most commonly performed. The majority of FTCs also performed ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) and open mid-gestation procedures under general anesthesia (GA). Compared to FTCs only performing minimally invasive procedures, FTCs performing open fetal procedures were more likely to have a pediatric surgeon as director and performed more minimally invasive procedures.ConclusionsThere is considerable variability in anesthesia staffing, caseload, and anesthetic techniques among FTCs in NAFTNet. Most FTCs used maternal sedation for minimally invasive procedures and GA for EXIT and open fetal surgeries.© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.

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