The Construction of an Intrauterine Diagnosis and Treatment System and Comprehensive Lifecycle Health Service of Congenital Heart Disease: Xinhua Hospital Model

Abstract

With the growing influence of slow population growth and population aging, China has established the birth policy and issued a series of documents to promote maternal and fetal health and improve the birth rate. With the increase in prevalence of birth defects, timely diagnosis and intervention in utero provide possibilities to reduce unnecessary abortions and offer better prognosis. Congenital heart disease (CHD), as one of the most common congenital birth defects, is the leading cause of mortality in patients aged <5 years, and brings a heavy burden to both the affected families and society. Fetuses with CHD are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and premature birth, and children with CHD typically face growth and developmental problems even after the correction of malformation. Therefore, management including diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation throughout the fetal period into childhood and even adulthood is essential for children with CHD. Based on the rapid advances in intrauterine and perinatal medicine and an in-depth collaboration among obstetrics and pediatrics, a novel diagnosis and treatment system has been established for the management of CHD in the past 2 decades in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital. This Intrauterine Diagnosis and Treatment System and Comprehensive Lifecycle Health Service of Congenital Heart Disease model provides prenatal diagnosis, intrauterine intervention, delivery room service and neonatal therapies, and postintrauterine rehabilitation for children with CHD. We have developed a four-dimensional spatiotemporal image correlation echocardiography and a three-dimensional cardiac virtual endoscopy system for the intrauterine diagnosis of CHD, dramatically raising the diagnostic utility. Our innovative and independent newborn-intervention technique has effectively reduced the re-intervention rate in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and critical pulmonary stenosis. In 2018, Xinhua Hospital independently performed the case of fetal aortic valvuloplasty in Asia through a multidepartment collaborative effort. All children treated in this system achieved biventricular circulation and a better long-term postoperative outcome. We also have conducted postoperative rehabilitation therapy to promote the development and health of children with CHD. The practice of Xinhua model has reduced unnecessary abortion of CHD fetuses, reduced the mortality rate associated with critical CHD, and improved the mid- and long-term prognosis in CHD, which is essential to promote the fertility level and children’s health. Furthermore, translational medicine platform and the birth cohort Early Life Plan was constructed to explore the origins of major developmental diseases and establish an early intervention model in CHD. This practice of assessment of the intrauterine system has been expanded to other congenital defects in Xinhua Hospital, and sequential treatment of more than 2,000 cases has been completed to date. Based on practice in intrauterine management of CHD and other diseases, the concept of Intrauterine Pediatrics was proposed as a first to emphasize early prevention and intervention of childhood diseases and promote a comprehensive lifecycle service for children. The development and evolution of this system requires further attention not only from researchers but also from the government and global medical communities.