Anesthesia for ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT procedure) in fetus with prenatal diagnosis of oral and cervical malformations: case reports

Helfer, Daniel Corrêa; Clivatti, Jefferson; Yamashita, Américo Massafuni; Moron, Antonio Fernades

doi:10.1590/S0034-70942012000300013

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fetus prenatally diagnosed with neck tumors, or with any other disease that obstructs the airways, should not be treated conventionally, as the assistant physician has to face two challenges right after the infant's delivery: the limited time to establish the access to the potentially difficult airways and the lack of anesthesia of the neonate in case of instrumentation of the airways. The ex utero intrapartum treatment, i.e., the EXIT procedure consists of maintaining the fetoplacental circulation during the cesarean section, until the airways of the fetus be secured. CASE REPORTS: Female patient, 37 years old, G3P2, 38 weeks pregnant, having polyhydramnios and fetus diagnosed with large cervical masses by prenatal ultrasound. A cesarean section was performed using the EXIT procedure to enable safe access to the infant's airways. After hysterotomy, the fetus was intubated by direct laryngoscopy. The neonate was immediately transferred to another operating room, where cervical tumor resection of the neck tumor and tracheostomy were successfully performed. Female patient, 27 years old, G3P1A1, 32 weeks pregnant, whose fetus was prenatally diagnosed with a large oral tumor. As the tumor obstructed the fetus' airways, a tracheostomy was performed when the fetus underwent EXIT procedure. It was then possible to use direct laryngoscopy for neonate intubation. The fetus underwent tumor resection and was sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. CONCLUSIONS: Reports describe the successful use of general anesthesia with isoflurane for cesarean delivery followed by the EXIT procedure in fetus diagnosed with tumors obstructing the airways.

cesarean section; congenital; hereditary; and neonatal diseases and abnormalities; fetal therapies; isoflurane; prenatal diagnosis

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O feto com diagnóstico pré-natal de massa cervical, ou qualquer outra doença que obstrua as vias aéreas, não deve ser abordado de forma convencional por apresentar dois desafios ao médico assistente logo após o parto: o tempo limitado para se estabelecer o acesso a vias aéreas potencialmente difíceis e a ausência de anestesia do neonato caso seja necessária instrumentação das vias aéreas. O procedimento EXIT (ex utero intrapartum treatment - EXIT procedure) consiste em manter a circulação fetoplacentária durante a cesariana até que as vias aéreas do feto estejam asseguradas. RELATO DOS CASOS: Mulher de 37 anos, G3P2, 38 semanas de gestação, apresentando polidrâmnio e feto com grande massa cervical diagnosticada por ultrassonografia pré-natal. A cesariana foi realizada com procedimento EXIT para possibilitar o acesso seguro das vias aéreas. Após a histerotomia, o feto foi intubado sob laringoscopia direta. O concepto foi transferido imediatamente para outra sala de cirurgia, onde foi realizada a ressecção do tumor cervical e a traqueostomia, ambos com sucesso. Mulher de 27 anos, G3P1A1, idade gestacional de 32 semanas, cujo feto tinha diagnóstico pré-natal de grande tumor em região oral. O tumor obstruía as vias aéreas do feto e foi programada traqueostomia com técnica EXIT, no entanto, foi possível intubar o recém-nascido sob laringoscopia direta, sendo então submetido à ressecção do tumor e encaminhado à UTI neonatal. CONCLUSÕES: Os relatos descrevem o uso bem sucedido de anestesia geral com isoflurano para a realização de cesariana seguida de procedimento EXIT em fetos com tumores obstruindo as vias aéreas.

cirurgia; cesárea; doenças; congênita; neoplasias; voláteis; isoflurano

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El feto con diagnóstico prenatal de masa cervical, o cualquier otra enfermedad que obstruya las vías aéreas, no debe ser abordado de forma convencional por presentar dos retos para el médico asistente inmediatamente después del parto: a) el tiempo limitado para establecer el acceso a las vías aéreas potencialmente difíciles y b) la ausencia de anestesia del neonato en el caso de que sea necesaria la instrumentación de las vías aéreas. El procedimiento EXIT (ex utero intrapartum treatment - EXIT procedure), consiste en mantener la circulación feto-placentaria durante la cesárea hasta que las vías aéreas del feto estén aseguradas. RELATO DE LOS CASOS: Mujer de 37 años, G3P2, 38 semanas de embarazo, presentando un polihidramnios y feto con gran masa cervical diagnosticada por ultrasonido prenatal. La cesárea fue realizada con el procedimiento EXIT para posibilitar el acceso seguro a las vías aéreas. Después de la histerotomía, el feto fue intubado bajo laringoscopia directa. Fue transferido inmediatamente a otra sala de cirugía, donde se le hizo la resección del tumor cervical y la traqueostomía, ambos con éxito. Mujer de 27 años, G3P1A1, edad gestacional de 32 semanas, cuyo feto tenía un diagnostico prenatal de gran tumor en la región oral. El tumor obstruía las vías aéreas del feto y fue programada la traqueostomía con técnica EXIT. Sin embargo, se pudo intubar al recién nacido bajo laringoscopia directa, siendo entonces sometido a la resección del tumor y derivado a la UCI neonatal. CONCLUSIONES: Los relatos describen el uso exitoso de la anestesia general con el isoflurano para la realización de la cesárea seguida de procedimiento EXIT en fetos con tumores obstruyendo las vías aéreas.

cirugía; cesárea; enfermidad; congénita; neoplasias; volátiles; isoflurano

CLINICAL INFORMATION

^IPhysician in Specialization; Resident of the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Intensive Care, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (Unifesp-EPM)

^IIAnesthesiologist; Anesthesiology Physician, Unifesp-EPM

^IIIAssistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Intensive Care, Unifesp-EPM

^IVPhD; Full Professor, Discipline of Obstetrics, Unifesp-EPM

Correspondence to

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fetus prenatally diagnosed with neck tumors, or with any other disease that obstructs the airways, should not be treated conventionally, as the assistant physician has to face two challenges right after the infant's delivery: the limited time to establish the access to the potentially difficult airways and the lack of anesthesia of the neonate in case of instrumentation of the airways. The ex utero intrapartum treatment, i.e., the EXIT procedure consists of maintaining the fetoplacental circulation during the cesarean section, until the airways of the fetus be secured.

CASE REPORTS: Female patient, 37 years old, G3P2, 38 weeks pregnant, having polyhydramnios and fetus diagnosed with large cervical masses by prenatal ultrasound. A cesarean section was performed using the EXIT procedure to enable safe access to the infant's airways. After hysterotomy, the fetus was intubated by direct laryngoscopy. The neonate was immediately transferred to another operating room, where cervical tumor resection of the neck tumor and tracheostomy were successfully performed. Female patient, 27 years old, G3P1A1, 32 weeks pregnant, whose fetus was prenatally diagnosed with a large oral tumor. As the tumor obstructed the fetus' airways, a tracheostomy was performed when the fetus underwent EXIT procedure. It was then possible to use direct laryngoscopy for neonate intubation. The fetus underwent tumor resection and was sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

CONCLUSIONS: Reports describe the successful use of general anesthesia with isoflurane for cesarean delivery followed by the EXIT procedure in fetus diagnosed with tumors obstructing the airways.

Keywords: cesarean section; congenital, hereditary, and neonatal diseases and abnormalities; fetal therapies; isoflurane; prenatal diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION

Fetuses with large cervical or oral tumors obstructing the airways, who are delivered via cesarean section, are associated to high mortality rates following delivery due to difficulties related to ventilation, intubation and tracheostomy¹.

Recent advances in image diagnosis have enabled early detection of tumors obstructing fetuses' airways, makimg possible to plan strategies of accessing these airways before delivery^2,3.

The EXIT procedure (ex utero intrapartum treatment) consists in maintaining the fetoplacental circulation during the cesarean section until the neonate's airways be secured^1,4-7. It is a procedure used in situations in which the fetus has obstructed airways at the end of pregnancy. The anesthetic technique used for this procedure must offer maternal anesthesia, appropriate uterine relaxation, fetal anesthesia and fetal immobility during his manipulation^2,8-10.

This paper reports two successful cases of EXIT procedure performed in fetuses prenatally diagnosed with airway obstruction, and it discusses the techniques used through a short literature review.

CASE REPORTS

Before procedure, the patients and their family were informed of the surgical and anesthetic techniques.

Case 1

Female patient, 37 years old, G3P2, 38 weeks pregnant, ASA I, having polyhydramnios and fetus diagnosed with large cervical masses by prenatal ultrasound. A cesarean section was performed using the EXIT procedure to enable safe access to the infant's airways while maintaining the fetoplacental circulation. The programmed anesthetic technique was the balanced anesthesia with fentanyl and isoflurane. During the preoperative period, intravenous metoclopramide (10 mg) and ranitidine (50 mg) were administered. The mother was monitored by pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors, noninvasive blood pressure monitors, capnography, anesthetic gas analyzers, and control of diuresis. The patient was positioned in a horizontal dorsal position, with arms open. The uterus was moved to the left with a "crawford wedge". After having used oxygen face mask for five minutes (100% oxygen), rapid sequence induction with fentanyl (250 µg), propofol (150 mg) and succinylcholine (50 mg) was performed, as well as Sellick maneuver and tracheal intubation. For anesthesia maintenance, it was necessary to administer 2% isoflurane with expired fraction of 1.4% in 100% oxygen, fentanyl (100 µg) and atracurium (30 mg) for muscle relaxation. There was a five minute gap between anesthesia induction and hysterotomy.

After hysterotomy, the fetus' head, body and upper extremities were delivered, and the uterine volume and the fetoplacental circulation were preserved (Figure 1). During the procedure, uterine relaxation due to 2% isoflurane was satisfactory and it was, therefore, not necessary to use additional tocolytic agents. Fetal monitoring consisted in manually controlling the umbilical cord, as well as in visual inspection (Figure 2). Eight minutes after hysterotomy, the fetus was intubated by direct laryngoscopy with a 3.0 mm tube without cuff (Figure 3). After assuring the right position of the tracheal tube, the umbilical cord was clamped and the fetus was delivered.

In the first minute after the delivery of the fetus' upper extremity, the umbilical cord blood gas analysis of the arterial sample obtained was pH 7.27; pCO₂ 49.9 mm Hg; pO₂ 26.5 mm Hg; and SatO₂ 40.1%. After seven minutes, the sample obtained was pH 7.24; pCO₂ 52.6 mm Hg; pO₂ 25.2 mm Hg; and SatO₂ 35.4%.

After umbilical cord clamping, constant infusion of 15 IU oxytocin were administered to the mother, and the inspired concentration of isoflurane was reduced to 0.5%. N₂O was introduced at 50%. The uterine contraction was appropriate in this procedure. The systolic blood pressure was maintained above 100 mm Hg during the whole procedure and it was not necessary to use vasoconstrictor agents. The exhaled CO₂ varied from 32 to 34 mm Hg. The total volume infused was 1,500 mL of crystalloids. Blood loss was estimated to be 600 mL, and blood transfusion was not necessary. The patient was extubated at the end of the procedure without having to reverse the neuromuscular blockade.

The neonate (NN) underwent surgical resection of a cervical tumor in a previously prepared room, and the histological diagnosis was cystic hygroma.

Case 2

Female patient, 27 years old, G3P1A1, 32 weeks pregnant, ASA I, whose fetus was prenatally diagnosed with a large oral tumor. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed a tumor suggestive of teratoma. As the tumor obstructed the fetus' airways, tracheostomy was performed when the fetus underwent EXIT procedure. Physicians used the general balanced anesthesia. The mother was monitored by pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors, noninvasive blood pressure monitors, capnography, anesthetic gas analyzers, and control of diuresis. The venous access was performed with an 18G catheter. After spinal anesthesia, with administration of 100 µg morphine for analgesia in the postoperative period, the patient was positioned in a dorsal position with a crawford wedge for uterus movement to the left. She was provided with 100% oxygen delivered via mask for five minutes. Rapid sequence induction of anesthesia with fentanyl (150 µg), propofol (150 mg) and succinylcholine (100 mg) was performed. Tracheal intubation was performed with Sellick maneuver, after muscle relaxation. Anesthesia was maintained by using 2.5% isoflurane, oxygen at 100%, and additional dose of fentanyl (200 µg) and atracurium (25 mg) for muscle relaxation.

Hysterotomy occurred 13 minutes after the anesthesia induction and in this case the fetus was totally delivered, but he had his uterine placental circulation preserved. During the procedure, uterine relaxation was satisfactory and it was, therefore, not necessary to use additional tocolytic agents. Fetal monitoring consisted in manually controlling the umbilical cord, as well as in visual inspection. Unlike what was previously supposed, physicians noticed the possibility of intubating the neonate's trachea. Seven minutes after hysterotomy, the fetus was intubated by direct laryngoscopy with a 3.0 mm tube without cuff (Figure 4). After assuring the right position of the tracheal tube, the umbilical cord was clamped (Figure 5). In a previously prepared room, the NN underwent surgical tumor resection. The surgery lasted 30 minutes approximately. The histological diagnosis was teratoma. At the end of the procedure, the neonate was sent to a neonatal ICU.

After umbilical cord clamping, constant infusion of 15 IU oxytocin were administered to the mother, and the inspired concentration of isoflurane was reduced to 0.5%. N₂O was introduced at 50%. The uterine contraction was appropriate in this procedure. The systolic blood pressure was maintained above 100 mm Hg during the whole procedure and it was not necessary to use vasoconstrictor agents. The exhaled CO₂ varied from 32 to 34 mm Hg. The total volume infused was 2,000 mL of crystalloids. Blood loss was estimated to be 1,100 mL, and blood transfusion was not necessary. The patient was extubated at the end of the procedure without having to reverse the neuromuscular blockade. In Figure 6, it is possible to see the unusual occurrence of teratoma in a placenta.

The blood from the umbilical cord coagulated and, therefore, it was not possible to perform the blood gas analysis.

DISCUSSION

The cases of cervical or oral malformations causing airway obstruction are extremely complex. Therefore, in order to successfully perform the EXIT procedure, the participation of multidisciplinary groups, including the specialties of obstetrics, neonatology, anesthesia and head and neck surgery is fundamental¹. The early evaluation of the parturient by these specialists makes it possible to plan the appropriate manner to deal with the case.

Since 1970, with the development of ultrasonography, the intrauterine diagnosis of congenital anomalies was made possible. In the last decade, it was possible to notice a rapid improvement of high-resolution imaging diagnosis, such as the ultrafast NMR and the ultrasonography itself^2,10.

The EXIT procedure was successfully used in cases in which it is possible to anticipate the difficulties related to the access to the neonate's airways^6,7,11,12. After uterine incision, only the fetal head is delivered. Uterine volume and fetoplacental circulation are maintained, securing oxygenation during access to the airways^6,12,13. Once the airways of the fetus are secured, the umbilical cord may be clamped and delivery may be completed. After birth, halogenated concentration reduction and venous infusion of oxytocin reverse uterine relaxation.

The anesthesia for fetal surgery involves simultaneous treatment and monitoring of two patients, mother and fetus. Unlike the anesthesia for conventional cesarean, the transplacental passage of the anesthetics is necessary to provide fetal anesthesia and immobility^7,14. In addition, physicians should maintain the uterus relaxed during the procedure. General anesthesia using halogenated agents is a technique recommended for fetal surgery performed outdoors and in cases of EXIT procedure^8,14,15. Neuraxial anesthesia and intravenous injection of nitroglycerin for uterine relaxation are an alternative technique¹⁶. The main advantage of this technique is to avoid risks related to general anesthesia for pregnant women. However, in order to achieve an appropriate uterine relaxation, high doses of nitroglycerin, which cause hypotension and headache, may be necessary¹⁶. Uterine relaxation can also be obtained through intravenous injection of magnesium sulfate¹⁷.

Anesthesia is administered to the fetus through the placenta. This depends on the difference between the partial pressure of the anesthetic in the maternal and fetal blood, on the solubility of the anesthetic in the fetal blood and on the distribution of the anesthetic throughout the fetal circulation. Biehl et al.¹⁸ studied the use of 2% isoflurane in eight sheep. According to their remarks, the anesthetic crosses the placenta rapidly and appears in the fetal circulation two minutes after anesthesia. However, the balance between maternal and fetal concentration of isoflurane occurs slowly. After 90 minutes of anesthesia, the anesthetic concentration on the fetal blood was only two-thirds of the mother's concentration¹⁸. In a study carried out with 12 women undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia with 0.8% isoflurane introduced in oxygen and nitrous oxide at 50%, the authors¹⁹ noticed that after 60 minutes of anesthesia, the isoflurane concentration in the fetal blood was approximately 70% of the mother's concentration. The slow increase and the concentration difference of anesthetics in the fetal blood do not prevent from obtaining the appropriate anesthesia, as the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of the fetus is lower¹⁸. The use of high concentrations of isoflurane seems to play a more important role in maintaining the uterine relaxation than the fetal anesthesia itself. Besides, intramuscular fentanyl (10-20 µg.kg^-1), ketamine (5 µg.kg^-1), vecuronium (0.2 mg.kg^-1) or rocuronium (1 mg.kg^-1) may be used adjunctively to the fetal anesthesia. In the cases mentioned, the fetuses did not react to the maneuvers involving laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation; therefore, it was not necessary to use opioids and neuromuscular blockers adjunctively to the fetal anesthesia, despite the short period of exposure to isoflurane. Fetal reaction to the maneuvers involving laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation should be avoided due to the risk of causing vigorous movements and breathing efforts that may cause physiological changes from the fetal circulation to the adult's circulation, reducing the placental flow²¹.

When the fetus changes to the adult-type circulation, he begins to depend on his own pulmonary ventilation and oxygenation, therefore, limiting the time to secure access to the airways^14,22. In order to avoid fetal movements and breathing efforts, it is possible to administer opioids and muscle relaxants within a muscle^7,14,22.

Fetal oxygenation depends on the uterine and umbilical cord blood flow. The arterial oxygen content in the mother's blood and the fetal hemoglobin concentration are other important aspects involved in the fetal oxygenation. The uterine blood flow can be appropriate if the uterus remains relaxed and if the mother's arterial pressure (AP) is maintained in a limit up to 10% of the initial AP². The use of 2% isoflurane in 100% oxygen enables an appropriate uterine relaxation and maintains the mother's pO₂ high. However, the prolonged use and high doses of halogenated anesthetics (higher than 2 MAC) can also lower the mother's blood pressure and the uterine placental flow^23,24. Therefore, it is important to administer halogenated anesthetics in uterolytic doses, but without jeopardizing the mother's cardiovascular system. If the mother's AP lowers, it must be immediately corrected with vasoconstrictor agents (ephedrine and phenylephrine)^17,22. On the other hand, the umbilical cord blood flow depends on the fetal circulation. It is important to maintain the fetus' cardiac output in order to assure placental perfusion and fetal oxygenation. Maternal arterial oxygen content may be increased together with ordinary FiO₂ increase and erythrocyte concentrate transfusion, if necessary²⁵. If possible, most of the fetal body should be maintained inside the uterus during procedure, in order to minimize heat loss to the external environment and preserve the umbilical blood flow. The fetal blood volume is low; therefore, if blood loss is approximately 10 mL, blood transfusion may be necessary². The fetus should receive "O negative" blood in case of hemorrhage². Fetal well being plays an important role in the early diagnose of impaired placental perfusion and can be monitored by different methods^4,2,26,27. Fetal heart rate can be monitored through the umbilical cord pulse, just as it was performed in our cases, or through echocardiography, which also gives information on end-systolic volume, contraction and the filling of the heart chambers²⁷. Oxygenation may be assessed by using pulse oximetry (saturation should be higher than 50%) and through the analysis of fetal blood gas. Fetal suffering is related to heart rate lower than 120 bpm, pulse oxymetry lower than 40% and acidosis¹⁴.

In a normal cesarean section, placental blood flow decreases during hysterotomy²⁸. The time gap between hysterotomy and the nenonate's birth seems to be extremely important for fetal well being at the end of the EXIT procedure. In a case report involving three cesarean sections with EXIT procedure under general anesthesia with isoflurane administered in a concentration of 1.8% to 2.5%, Gaiser et al.⁴ analyzed the umbilical cord gas values. In each case, total time from hysterotomy and delivery was 10, 12 and 29 minutes, and the umbilical cord arterial blood obtained at delivery was higher than pH 7.22 in all cases⁴. In another case report of the use of anesthesia with isoflurane for cesarean delivery of a twin gestation with EXIT procedure performed in one of the fetus with a giant neck mass, the author documented fetal acidosis in both of the fetuses²⁹. Total time from hysterotomy and delivery was 20 minutes for the normal fetus and 35 minutes for the one with a neck mass. After birth, the umbilical cord arterial blood was pH 7.07 and 7.10 respectively. Despite the relatively short time gap between hysterotomy and delivery, there was prolonged exposure to isoflurane (58 minutes for the normal fetus and 72 minutes for the second)²⁹. In addition, the fetuses were twins, which makes the procedure more difficult. The evolution of the normal neonate was favorable and he was extubated after 17 minutes without difficulties²⁹. In a thorough clinical report of 45 cases, Cauldwell⁷ did not observe fetal acidosis, not even in a case in which the author maintained the uterus relaxed for two hours. In our cases, the time gap between hysterotomy and umbilical cord clamping was approximately 10 minutes, because clamping occurred only after the fixation of the orotracheal intubation, despite previous intubation. In the first case, the analysis of the umbilical cord's arterial blood between the first minute (pH 7.27) and the seventh minute (pH 7.24) of the EXIT procedure did not reveal fatal acidosis (pH < 7.20 is considered to be fetal acidosis). In the second case, the umbilical cord blood coagulated and it was not possible to perform gas analysis. During the procedures, fetal oxygenation was appropriate. According to the studies presented, total time from uterus incision and umbilical cord clamping should be limited to 60 minutes, but ideally time gap should be less than 30 minutes^2,22.

Uterine relaxation may be achieved by administering different volatile agents, such as isoflurane and sevoflurane in concentrations of 2 MAC^2,15,30,31. Concentrations higher than 2 MAC of halogenated anesthetics are associated to the development of maternal arterial hypotension, uterine flow reduction, hypoxia and fetal acidosis³². In both cases, the uterine relaxation obtained with 2% isoflurane was satisfactory for the whole procedure, without maternal arterial hypotension. However, in order to obtain an appropriate uterine relaxation, it was not necessary to use tocolytic agents, such as magnesium sulfate and nitroglycerin⁴, despite the halogenated anesthetic. Nitroglycerin is the best agent to perform EXIT procedures due to its rapid and short term onset, enabling the return of the uterine tonus right after interruption²⁹. It can be used in intermittent bolus of 50 to 100 µg through venous access or in continuous infusion of 10 to 20 µg.kg^-1.min^-122,33. Despite being ideal for EXIT procedures, nitroglycerin can cause hypotension and must be readily corrected with vasoconstrictor agents to maintain uterine perfusion^22,33. Magnesium sulfate can also be used in bolus of 2 to 3 g through venous access and maintenance of continuous infusion of 2 g.h^{-1 29,34}. Adverse effects associated to the use of manganese sulfate include respiratory and cardiovascular depressions, as well as a prolonged effect of neuromuscular blockers.

The preservation of the uterine volume during the EXIT procedure is fundamental for the maintenance of the placental flow, avoiding placental displacement and fetal asphyxia²². With the airways secured, the fetus is totally delivered from the uterine cavity, the umbilical cord is clamped and the uterine relaxation is reversed.

The high doses of inhalational anesthetics must be discontinued after umbilical cord clamping to avoid uterine atony. Despite the use of oxytocin, physicians should reduce the concentration of volatile anesthetics to less than 0.5 MAC and add to the mother's anesthesia other anesthetic agents, such as opioids, nitrous oxide, or administer epidural anesthesia via a previously installed catheter¹⁷. Depending on the case, the neonate is sent to an appropriately prepared room or to a neonatal intensive care unit. In the cases presented in this study, uterine contraction was appropriate after having reduced the inspired concentration of isoflurane to 0.5% and used 15 IU oxytocin in continuous infusion. Estimates of blood loss during the whole procedure were similar to the loss in conventional cesarean.

Reports describe the successful use of general balanced anesthesia using isoflurane as the main uterine relaxant to perform cesarean section followed by EXIT procedure in fetuses with tumors obstructing the airways. The procedures established in anesthesia for fetal surgery are based on studies involving animals and mainly on clinical experience reported through case studies. Fetal surgery is a medical field in rapid development. Anesthesiologists should follow this development and be prepared to treat patients appropriately and safely.

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