The EXIT (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment) Procedure

Abstract

Fetuses with upper airway obstruction have a high mortality rate if proper airway management is not immediately administered after delivery. The EXIT (ex utero intrapartum treatment) procedure is a new technique that establishes the fetal airway while uteroplacental circulation is still maintained. The prognosis of such neonates has much improved after the introduction of this procedure. We report two neonates with prenatal diagnosis of upper airway obstruction; they were born smoothly via the EXIT procedure. The first was a case of epignathus, a rare type of nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal teratoma derived from all three germ cell layers with variable maturity. The second was a case of giant lymphangioma that resulted from localized malformations in the development of the lymphatic system. Furthermore, compared with routine cesarean section, the short-term maternal outcomes were not different with regard to infection rate, estimated blood loss, wound complication, and postpartum hospital stay.

Keywords

• epignathus
• EXIT procedure
• lymphangioma