Conditions We Treat
Our center has the deep experience and expertise to treat virtually any condition that might affect an unborn baby or newborn — no matter how rare . But even more important than our array of treatments is our rate of success . We value transparency in our outcomes , which is why we track and report the outcomes that matter .
• Abdominal wall defects
• Achondrogenesis
• Achondroplasia
• Agenesis of the corpus callosum
• Ambiguous genitalia
• Amniotic band syndrome
• Anencephaly
• Aortic valve stenosis
• Aqueductal stenosis
• Arachnoid cysts
• Arthrogryposis
• Atrioventricular canal defect
• Bladder exstrophy
• Bladder outlet obstruction
• Body stalk anomaly
• Bronchopulmonary sequestration
• Campomelic dysplasia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cerebral calcifications
• Cervical teratoma
• Choledochal cyst
• Chondrodysplasia punctata
• Cleft lip and palate
• Clinodactyly
• Cloacal exstrophy
• Clubfoot
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Colonic atresia
• Complete atrioventricular septal defect
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome
• Congenital pulmonary airway malformation
• Conjoined twins
• Craniosynostosis
• Cystic hygroma in early or late pregnancy
• Cystic lesions of the abdomen
• Dandy-Walker malformation and variants
• Diastrophic dysplasia
• Double outlet right ventricle
• Duodenal atresia and stenosis
• Ebstein anomaly
• Echogenic kidneys
• Ectopia cordis
• Ectrodactyly
• Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
• Encephalocelea
• Enteric duplicational atresia
• Epignathus
• Epulis
• Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
• Exencephaly / acrania
• Fetal cardiac conditions
• Gastroschisis
• Goiter
• Hemifacial microsomia
• Hemivertebrae
• Heterotaxy syndrome
• Hirschsprung ’ s disease
• Holoprosencephaly
• Hydranencephaly
• Hydrocephalus
• Hydronephrosis : ectopic ureterocele
• Hydronephrosis : minimal
• Hydronephrosis : ureteropelvic junction obstruction
• Hydrops fetalis
• Hydrothorax
• Hypertelorism
14 | Colorado Fetal Care Center
Research and Clinical Trials
Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy Trial Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion Trial
IRB #19-0806
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03101891
Principal investigator: Michael Zaretsky, MD IRB #18-0461
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03674372
Principal investigator: Kenneth Liechty, MD
Early pregnancy renal anhydramnios, or EPRA, is a
condition where a pregnant woman does not have
amniotic fluid around her fetus because of a problem with
the fetus's kidneys, which can be fatal due to inadequate
lung growth. The Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy
(RAFT) Trial offers eligible pregnant women with a
diagnosis of EPRA an experimental therapy of repeated
or serial "amnioinfusions" of fluid into the womb. This study will determine whether fetoscopic endoluminal
tracheal occlusion (FETO ) surgery works and is safe for
babies with severe right or left congenital diaphragmatic
hernia (CDH). CDH is a condition in which a hole in the
baby's diaphragm allows the abdominal organs to move
into the chest and limit lung growth. The goal of the FETO
device is to block the airway with a balloon-type device,
allowing fluid to build up and help the unborn baby's lungs
grow, which may improve the baby's quality of life.
Contact: Hilary Hoffman
[email protected]
Surveillance and Treatment to Prevent Fetal
Atrioventricular Block Likely to Occur Quickly
Contact: Hilary Hoffman
[email protected]
Gastroschisis Outcomes of Delivery Trial
IRB #20-1310
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04474223
Principal investigator: Bettina Cuneo, MD IRB #19-0970
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02774746
Principal investigator: Nicholas Behrendt, MD
Fetal complete atrioventricular block, or AVB, is
irreversible; however, there may be a vital transition
period of several hours in which incomplete block may be
successfully treated. In-home fetal monitoring optimizes
the likelihood of timely detection of the transition period,
empowering mothers to identifying it using a fetal heart
rate monitor at home. This study seeks to confirm the
efficacy of this approach. This study investigates the hypothesis that delivery at
35 weeks in stable patients with gastroschisis is superior
to observation and expectant management with a
goal of delivery at 38 weeks. To test this hypothesis,
we will complete a prospective, multi-institutional
trial, randomizing patients to delivery at 35 weeks
or observation with a goal of 38 weeks. The primary
composite outcome will include stillbirth, neonatal
death prior to discharge, respiratory morbidity, and need
for parenteral nutrition at 30 days.
Contact: Bettina Cuneo, MD
[email protected]
Contact: Hilary Hoffman
[email protected]
Mayo Clinic Cord Blood Banking
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely
underdeveloped and the right side of the heart must pump blood to both the lungs and the body. This study collects
and banks babies’ umbilical cord blood at Mayo Clinic’s Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for HLHS, making
it possible for children to participate in future clinical trials using stems cells from their own body. The goal of the
clinical trial is to strengthen the heart using stem cells.
Fetal Magnetocardiogram
While electrocardiogram, or ECG, is well established for measuring heart rhythm, this technology has never been
applied to fetal hearts, due to the difficulty of recording these signals within the womb. A cutting-edge new device
known as an optically pumped magnetometer, or OPM, records the magnetic fields given off by the fetal heart
and converts them to electrical signals, a technology called fetal magnetocardiogram, or fMCG. Until now, this
technology has only been available in a handful of research laboratories in the world.
As of 2020, the Colorado Fetal Care Center is the only fetal care center in the world with an OPM and the ability to
perform advanced fMCG in-house. This technology, as employed in the labor and delivery unit, has the potential to
improve fetal outcomes in ways not yet imagined.
24 | Colorado Fetal Care Center
2020 Overview and Outcomes | 25