Short summary

The purpose of this study is to review the results of performed prenatal ultrasound screening for kidney and urinary tract malformations in Region Southern Denmark in the period 2019-2022. By this we will contribute knowledge regarding the quality of diagnosis and evaluate the regional guideline's ability to detect potentially life-threatening conditions.

Rationale

In Denmark, all pregnant persons are offered two screenings for congenital malformations. One in gestational age of 11-13 weeks and the other in gestational age of 18-20 weeks. The purpose of the screenings is to gain information about the pregnancy, condition of fetus as well as the pregnant person. Abnormal findings, like malformation of the urological organs, during prenatal screening allows for the opportunity act appropriately regarding treatment plan at all stages, pregnancy, birth and neonatal period. Information received with ultrasound screenings could eventually lead to expected parents to choose to terminate the pregnancy, when major malformations are diagnosed. One fourth of children born with urological anomalies in Denmark will need surgical treatment, or around 0,1% of all live births. Some urinary tract malformations are life threatening for the affected individual, even dependent on a kidney transplant. In other cases, the malformation corrects itself over time and the patient's quality of life increases with age. The accuracy of the prenatal screening is thus important for the detection and timely treatment of children with congenital urinary tract malformations. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to describe the results of prenatal detection of kidney and urinary tract malformations during first and second trimester ultrasound scans at Odense University Hospital from 01.01.2019-31.12.2022. Follow-up on infants was performed postnatally to 6 months of age. Specifically, we looked at: • Characteristics of all kidney and urinary tract malformation • Gestation age/ age of infant at diagnosis • Outcome of the pregnancy and neonate (intrauterine death, abortion, birth, death of infant...) • False positive and false negative findings

Description of the cohort

Patients from Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Odense University Hospital and patients from Department of Paediatrics at Odense University Hospital

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Odense University Hospital

• Lene Sperling Phd, Overlæge, Klinisk Lektor
• Karina Hjort-Pedersen Phd

Department of Paediatrics at Odense University Hospital